Juergen Trittin: land take still too high
In the results of the Environmental-Economic Accounting 2003, presented today by the Federal Statistical Office, Federal Environment Minister Jürgen Trittin sees confirmation that the environmental objectives of the Federal Government's sustainability strategy are being implemented. "The positive trend seen in recent years has continued," said the Minister. "Energy and raw materials are being used more and more effectively and thus in a more environmentally sound way. The trend towards decoupling economic growth from resource use is continuing."
From 1990 to 2002, the Federal Statistical Office notes an annual increase in energy productivity of 1.8 per cent. Between 1991 and 2002, raw materials productivity improved by an average of 2.2 per cent annually. Last year alone, this figure improved by 4.1 percent compared to 2001. Greenhouse gas emissions dropped between 1990 and 2001 by an annual average of 1.8 per cent, and emissions of important air pollutants fell by an average of 4.5 percent.
There is still progress to be made in the area of land take for settlement and transport where significantly excessive increases can continue to be seen. From 1993 to 2002, land used for settlement and transport increased by 1.1. per cent each year. This is equivalent to a land take averaging 124 hectares per day during the past ten years. While last year this figure dropped to around 105 ha. per day, the minister insisted that this was still too far away from the goal of restricting land take to 30 ha. per day in 2020.
Trittin referred to the progress report on the national sustainability strategy which is currently being compiled. The reduction of land use will be one of the focal points of this report. Here, said the minister, a comprehensive social debate on developing a coherent system of planning and economic instruments should be initiated, adding that the change of trend must be made permanent and more dynamic.