About us

Umweltbundesamt - Environment Agency Austria

Umweltbundesamt – Perspectives for environment and society

Umweltbundesamt is the leading Austrian expert organisation for all environmental issues and media. Umweltbundesamt works for the conservation of nature and the environment, and thus contributes to the sustainable development of society. Its core tasks include the monitoring, management and evaluation of environmental data.

Strengths & competences

The Umweltbundesamt promotes interdisciplinary expertise in all environmental disciplines, as well as in software development and the operation of applications, air quality monitoring, chemical and GMO analysis and project management.

Programmes & environmental strategy processes

Umweltbundesamt employees are actively involved in the following environment strategy processes:

Nature & Usages:

• Conservation of biodiversity
• Soil strategy
• Rural development
• Genetically modified organisms – risk management
• Environmental impact and climate change
• Water policy

Data & Diagnosis:

• Environmental information

Substances & Analysis:

• Chemicals management
• Substances and risk management

Economy & Impact:

• Integrated air pollution control
• Plants and environmental technology
• Climate change mitigation
• Material flow management

For the cross-cutting theme Sustainable Development:

• Sustainability strategies

History

The Umweltbundesamt was founded in 1985 as outlined in the Environmental Control Act. Three years later, its core tasks were redefined in a new version of the Act.

In 1999, the Umweltbundesamt became a Limited Liability Company (GmbH), wholly owned by the Republic of Austria and represented by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management.