Germany - the Drafting of an Environmental Law Code (UGB)

摘要

The German Environmental Code, or Umweltgesetz-buch (UGB), has a claim to being the best-prepared legislative project in modern Germany, first through scholarly literature, then by the relevant Ministry for the Environment. Whilst the legislative procedure which began in 2007 in order to lead to the Code's enactment appears to have failed again, another attempt is likely to be made soon, and the aims of the bill undoubtedly remain relevant: the new Code is intended to consolidate, streamline and harmonise existing German environmental law, presently scattered over numerous pieces of legislation, into a single and consistent code, thus ensuring clarity, simplicity and transparency. In addition, as explained further below, recent amendments to the Basic Law (the German Constitution) require some legislation in the areas of water law and nature conservation law, ideally within the current legislative period.