The Environment Chronicle

26 states sign the Antarctic treaty; exploitation of natural resources is banned for 50 years. A legally binding (under civil law) Protocol on Environmental Protection is part of the treaty, containing the goal of conserving biodiversity and the ecosystem in the Antarctic. The Protocol is embodied in German law with an Act Implementing the Protocol of Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.

The Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas (ASCOBANS) was concluded in 1991 under the auspices of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS or Bonn Convention) and entered into force in 1994. In February 2008, an extension of the agreement area entered into force which changed the name to “Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas”. ASCOBANS covers all species of toothed whales in the Agreement Area, with the exception of the sperm whale.

During talks with Greenpeace, representatives of Hoechst announce an end to their use of CFCs and any substitutes containing chlorine.

Hosted and organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), the World Water Week in Stockholm has been the annual focal point for the planet’s water issues since 1991. The Week provides a unique forum for the exchange of views and experiences between the scientific, business, policy and civic communities.

25 years ago, the German Arctic Station in Svalbard was officially opened by the former directors of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Prof. Gotthilf Hempel and Dr Rainer Paulenz, as well as the BMBF State Secretary, Mr. Bernd Neumann. The Koldewey Station originated from a joint cooperation with the Norwegian Polar Institute and the Norwegian operating company Kingsbay along with sponsorship from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. It was the first non-Norwegian station in Ny Ålesund operating all year round. In 2003, the stations "Koldewey" and "Rabot" were merged into a modern German-French Community Station AWIPEV. In 1988, the AWI started its first seasonal research work in Ny Ålesund, Svalbard. The scientific motivation was the exploration of the arctic ozone layer, especially in winter and spring, which required staying there throughout the winter. The establishment of the station and the good working conditions locally allowed for the quick expansion of the scientific spectrum of tasks to include atmosphere-chemical, biological and geo-physical topics. To this day, the topic of climate change and its impact on life in the Arctic is of central importance for the observatories and project work conducted at AWIPEV station.

The "ABT Summer", carrying 260,000 t oil, catches fire off the coast of Angola.

The Vienna Convention is embodied in German law with this ordinance. Such regulations have resulted in cuts of over 40% relative to 1986 in CFC use, 95% in the case of Germany.

The "Haven" catches fire and sinks in the Mediterranean, carrying 143,000 t crude oil.

The cruiser "Moby Prince" rams the tanker "Agip Abruzzo". 140 die, the Mediterranean is polluted with a large amount of oil.

In the Belgian harbour of Dunkirchen, Greenpeace succeeds in blocking a cargo of fuel rods from Germany's Unterweser nuclear power station, bound for the British reprocessing plant at Sellafield, for 18 hours.

Greenpeace publishes the world's first magazine printed on chlorine-free paper: "Das Plagiat", an exact copy of the German current affairs magazine "Der Spiegel". The latter promptly copies its plagiariser and appears on chlorine free paper for the first time in November 1992. This represents the breakthrough for chlorine-free paper, which gradually becomes a printing standard.

The Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt DBU is one of Europe's largest foundations and promotes innovative and exemplary environmental projects. Since 1991, almost 5500 projects have received financial backing totalling about ? 1 billion. The promotional activities concentrate on environmental technology and research, nature conservation, environmental communication and cultural assets.

The Espoo Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (EIA) stipulates the obligations of Parties to assess the environmental impact of certain activities at an early stage of planning. It also lays down the general obligation of States to notify and consult each other on all major projects under consideration that are likely to have a significant adverse environmental impact across boundaries. The Espoo Convention entered into force on 10 September 1997.

The Gulf War oil spill was one of the largest oil spills in history, resulting from the Gulf War in 1991. The apparent strategic goal was to foil a potential landing by US Marines. It also made commandeering oil reserves dangerous for US forces as visibility and movement were inhibited. The immediate reports from Baghdad said that American air strikes had caused a discharge of oil from two tankers. Coalition forces determined the main source of oil to be the Sea Island terminal in Kuwait. On January 26, three US F-117 fighter-bombers destroyed pipelines to prevent further spillage into the Persian Gulf. Several other sources of oil were found to be active: tankers and a damaged Kuwaiti oil refinery near Mina Al Ahmadi, tankers near Bubiyan Island, and Iraq's Mina Al Bakr terminal.

Bird of the Year 1990 is the Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix).

The Convention on the Protection of the Alps aims to conserve and protect the Alps with careful, sustainable use of their resources. It is legally binding in civil law.

Flower of the Year 1991 is the Bog-rosemary(Andromeda polifolia).

Tree of the Year 1991 is the Large-leaved Linden (Tilia patyphyllos).

Biotope of the Year: Dry heathland

Landscape of the Year: the Eifel and the Ardennes.

Orchid of the Year: Green-winged orchid (Orchis morio)

The incinerator ship "Vulcanus II" leaves Antwerp on its final journey, before the global ban on high sea incineration of toxic waste comes into force.

§1 If a person's life is lost, body or health impaired or property damaged as a result of the environmental impact of a plant listed in the Appendix, its operator is required to compensate the person for this damage.

This act regulates the use of and payment for electricity generated exclusively from water or wind power, solar energy, landfill, sewage or biomass gas within Germany by electricity suppliers. The act has been replaced by the Renewable Energy Sources Act.

The Second World Climate Conference (SWCC) co-sponsored by the WMO, UNEP, UNESCO, the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), FAO and the International Council for Science (ICSU) was convened in Geneva on 29 October to 7 November 1990, with the objectives to review the work of the first decade of the World Climate Programme (WCP), the First Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and the development of an International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP). The outcome of the Conference, two years later, led to the establishment of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS).

By resolution 44/236 (22 December 1989), the General Assembly designated the second Wednesday of October International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction. The International Day was to be observed annually during the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, 1990-1999. In 2001, the General Assembly decided to maintain the observance of the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction on the second Wednesday of October (resolution 56/195 of 21 December), as a vehicle to promote a global culture of natural disaster reduction, including disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness.

With the German reunification entering into force, the environmental legislation of the former BRD and the European Union becomes valid all over Germany. Dedicated regulations deal with the special situation in the new states ("länder").

To protest against Russian atomic tests on Novaia Semlya, Greenpeace sails into the arctic ice. The army storms the ship and seizes its crew. After four days of international protest, both are released again.

The state shall set up a public institute, the " German Federal Environmental Institute".

The purpose of the act is 1. to protect the life and health of humans, animals, plants, the environment affected by them and property from possible hazard from genetically engineered products and processes, and to prevent such hazards from arising. 2. to create a legal framework for the research, development, use and funding of the scientific, technical and economic potential of genetic technologies.

The Greenpeace ship Beluga begins a two-month journey along the Elbe, to mount protests against river polluters in both West and East Germany.

§1 The purpose of this Act is to ensure that for the projects set out in the Appendix to Article 3 in order to guarantee effective preventative environmental protection on the basis of uniform principles: 1. the effects on the environment are identified, described and assessed in time and comprehensively, 2. the results of the environmental impact assessment are taken into account as early as possible in all cases in which authorities decide upon the approval of projects.

In the South Pacific, the Rainbow Warrior prevents Japanese and Taiwanese trawler fleets from casting their mile-long "wall of death". In the Summer, Japan announces an end to dragnet fishing in the South Pacific.

Orchid of the Year: Pyramidal orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis)

Flower of the Year 1990 is the Sheepbit or Sheep's Bit (Jasione montana).

Landscape of the Year: the Neusiedlersee

Tree of the Year 1990 is the Beech (Fagus sylvatica).

Biotope of the Year: Reed beds

East German environment offices are integrated into the West German structure. The FEA begins a detailed investigation of contaminated sites, for which the government makes funds available: for lignite mining alone some $750,000 between 1992 and 1997. A number of laws is harmonised without difficulty.

On the basis of scientific research, some of it by the FEA, the government commits Germany to a reduction in greenhouse emissions of CO2 by 25% relative to 1990 by the year 2005, making Germany a global frontrunner in climate protection.