Umweltbundesamt

What Umweltbundesamt does

Umweltbundesamt (UBA) is Germany's federal environment agency, operating as an upper federal authority (obere Bundesbeh\u00f6rde) under the Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV). Headquartered in Dessau-Ro\u00dfau with a second administrative location in Berlin-Grunewald, the agency provides scientific research, environmental monitoring, and policy advisory services across 14 thematic domains including climate and energy, air quality, water, soil, chemicals, waste and resources, health, noise, transport, and sustainability strategies. Its core constituency spans federal, state, and local public authorities; the scientific community; regulated German companies; educators; and the general public, with no commercial sales motion.

The agency's technical portfolio centers on data-centric public services rather than packaged software products. Digital offerings include the UBA Data Cube (datacube.uba.de), the Datensuche portal, the real-time Luftdaten air-quality platform, the Luftqualit\u00e4t mobile application, the CO\u2082-Rechner (personal carbon footprint calculator), the umwelt.info national information portal, and the Anwendungslabor f\u00fcr K\u00fcnstliche Intelligenz und Big Data am UBA research unit. It monitors 1,794 stationary industrial and energy installations under the European emissions trading system, reporting 264 million tonnes of CO\u2082 equivalents for 2025, and contributes to international chemical risk assessment under REACH and the EU PARC partnership.

UBA is funded entirely through the German federal budget rather than commercial revenue, and provides all information, publications, data, and tools free of charge. Its operating model is a public-information dissemination and regulatory advisory function rather than a market-driven business; physical publications are distributed through GVP Gemeinn\u00fctzige Werkst\u00e4tten Bonn, newsletter delivery is handled by Brevo under a GDPR-compliant data processing agreement, and external service providers such as agrathaer GmbH implement specific research and communication projects.

Name

Umweltbundesamt

Legal name

Umweltbundesamt

Website

https://umweltbundesamt.de

Company type

Public

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Umweltbundesamt is Germany's federal environment agency, providing scientific research, environmental monitoring, and policy advisory services across 14 thematic areas to public authorities, businesses, the scientific community, and citizens, funded entirely by the federal government budget.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Environmental Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Protection Agencies & Environmental Health Departments (HLAJAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Air Quality & Emissions Management (BPAHAJAI), Greenhouse Gas (GHG) & Climate Regulatory Compliance (Mandatory Reporting, Cap-and-Trade Compliance) (EUAHABAG), Environmental Enforcement Defense & Consent Order/Settlement Support (NOV Responses, Corrective Action Plans) (EUAHABAI), Hazardous Chemicals & Toxic Substances Regulators (REACH/TSCA-style) (HLAJAFAF)

Keywords

• Environmental monitoring services
• Environmental policy research
• Air quality monitoring
• Climate advisory services
• Chemical safety regulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Dessau

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Federal Government Funding: The Umweltbundesamt is a federal upper government authority funded through the federal budget under the Federal Ministry for Environment. The agency does not operate on commercial revenue models but is sustained by public tax funding allocated through the German federal government.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Umweltbundesamt (German Environment Agency) is Germany's primary federal environmental authority, conducting environmental research, monitoring environmental quality (air, water, soil, climate), providing scientific policy advice to the federal government, and implementing environmental regulations. The agency disseminates environmental data, publications, and awareness resources across 14 topic areas to citizens, businesses, scientific institutions, and public authorities.

Product overview

Umweltbundesamt (German Environment Agency) is a German federal government agency that provides environmental information, data, and research. Its digital offerings consist primarily of informational websites and data portals rather than a unified software product. Key digital services include: the UBA Data Cube for environmental data exploration; the App Luftqualität for real-time air quality monitoring; the CO₂-Rechner for personal carbon footprint calculation; Datensuche for diagrams, infographics, maps, and tables; and Luftdaten providing current air quality data. Educational offerings include Bodenwelten.de (soil education platform), the Bodenwissen im Handumdrehen educational game, and the Fridolin earthworm brochure for children. The agency also operates the Anwendungslabor für Künstliche Intelligenz und Big Data (AI Lab) for AI and big data research applications. The umwelt.info portal provides centralized access to environmental and nature conservation information.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 2025: German emissions from EU ETS decreased by ~3% (approximately 264 million tonnes CO₂ equivalents from 1,794 installations)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2016Co-publisher of the educational board game 'Bodenwissen im Handumdrehen' (Soil Knowledge in a Jiffy), a memory game for children about soil ecosystems, along with UBA, LBEG, and the Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Umwelt, Energie und Klimaschutz.
• Landesamt für Bergbau, Energie und Geologie (LBEG) NiedersachsencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2016Co-publisher of the educational board game 'Bodenwissen im Handumdrehen' along with UBA, BGR, and the Niedersächsisches Ministerium. LBEG also distributes the game to interested parties.
• agrathaer GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 5 October 2015Implements the UBA research project 'Werkzeuge und Methoden zur Kommunikation von Bodenthemen' (Tools and Methods for Communicating Soil Topics), developing communication methods and tools for soil protection awareness.
• BMU / BMUB (Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit / Bau und Naturschutz)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011The Federal Ministry for Environment provides funding for UBA soil awareness projects, including the 'Bodenfenster' (Soil Window) training program for pedagogical staff and various soil education initiatives and publications.
• Bundesverband Boden (BVB) e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Federal Soil Association operates the Bodenwelten.de information platform, which provides comprehensive soil-related information. The association collaborates with UBA on soil education, awareness campaigns, and the 'Boden des Jahres' (Soil of the Year) initiative.
• Bund/Länder-Arbeitsgemeinschaften und Arbeitskreise (LABO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint working groups of federal and state authorities that developed the LABO Working Aid for Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) in soil and groundwater protection, supporting implementation of the European Industrial Emissions Directive.
• Brevo (Sendinblue GmbH, Berlin)coreTechnology or IntegrationGDPR-compliant email service provider handling newsletter distribution for UBA as of January 13, 2026, managing subscriber lists and sending newsletters on behalf of the German Environment Agency under a data processing agreement per Art. 28 GDPR.
• GVP Gemeinnützige Werkstätten BonnminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExternal service provider handling physical shipment of ordered publications from UBA to customers, providing distribution logistics for printed materials.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): U.S. federal environmental regulator with analogous responsibilities for air, water, waste, and chemical safety. Comparable as a national-scale environmental authority with regulatory, scientific, and policy advisory functions similar to UBA.
• European Environment Agency (EEA): EU-level environmental agency providing pan-European environmental data, indicators, and assessments. Directly comparable to UBA in mandate (environmental monitoring, reporting, policy support) but operating at the EU rather than national level.
• UK Environment Agency: England's principal environmental regulator with broad responsibilities for environmental protection, flooding, water quality, and waste. Comparable in regulatory scope but with a more operational/flood-management focus than UBA.

Direct peers

• Umweltbundesamt (Austria): Austrian federal environment agency sharing an identical name and broadly similar remit: environmental monitoring, policy advice, and public information. The closest direct national-level peer to UBA, though operating at smaller country scale.
• Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM): Dutch research institute performing environmental monitoring, public health, and policy advisory functions. Comparable to UBA in combining scientific research with national environmental and health monitoring.
• Norwegian Environment Agency (Miljødirektoratet): Norway's national environmental authority responsible for environmental monitoring, climate policy, and regulatory enforcement. Comparable to UBA in functions even though Norway is outside the EU.
• French ADEME: France's agency for ecological transition, covering environmental and energy transition, research, and policy advice. Comparable to UBA in mandate and structure as a national environmental/energy advisory and funding agency.
• Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket): Sweden's national environmental authority with mandate covering environmental monitoring, climate policy, chemicals, and biodiversity. Comparable to UBA in scope and structure as a national environmental regulator within the EU.
• Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN / BAFU): Switzerland's federal environmental authority responsible for environmental policy, monitoring, and regulation. Closely comparable to UBA in structure as a federal-level environmental office providing policy advice, data, and enforcement support.

Regional players

• European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): EU-level chemicals regulator implementing REACH, CLP, and BPR. Comparable to UBA's chemicals-related work (REACH assessment) but operating at EU rather than national level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/umweltbundesamt
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/UmweltbundesamtVideos
• Facebookfacebook.com/umweltbundesamt.de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/umweltbundesamt-de
• Instagraminstagram.com/umweltbundesamt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Umweltbundesamt