Environmental Statistics Act (UStatG).

The Act serves as the legal foundation for collecting environmental statistics in Germany. It mandates statistical surveys as federal statistics to support environmental policy and fulfill European and international reporting obligations. The law outlines detailed provisions for data collection across various domains, including waste management, water supply and wastewater disposal, environmentally harmful substances, and environmental protection expenditures. It specifies the types of data to be collected, the responsible parties (e.g., operators, municipalities, companies), the frequency of surveys, and the sectors affected. Surveys cover aspects like waste quantities, water usage, treatment methods, emissions, investment in environmental protection, and environmentally related goods and services. It also sets rules on data processing, confidentiality, and responsibilities of authorities like the Federal Statistical Office. Additionally, the law allows the federal government to amend survey requirements via regulation to reflect evolving policy needs or EU directives. Overall, it provides the statistical infrastructure needed to monitor environmental performance and guide sustainable development in Germany. This Act consists of 18 Articles.