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Motorbikers riding in heavy smog in New Delhi, India
Image: Hindustan Times/imago images

Pollution

Pollution can take many forms. But most agree that pollution is harmful for people and other life on Earth — whether dirty air, water or solid waste. What is more controversial is how to best prevent it and clean it up.

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All Content on this topic

Smog in Paris

Paris bans old cars from city center

The French capital has issued a ban on cars registered before 1997.
July 1, 2016
Ozonloch über der Antarktis Grafik

The ozone layer is on the mend

The hole in the ozone layer over the Antarctic is shrinking, signaling good news for the environment, researchers say.
July 1, 2016
Borsigplatz in Dortmund (Picture: imago/Hans Blossey)

Who's in charge of greening cities?

An increasing urban population means cities will need to become more sustainable. But there's no specific framework.
June 30, 2016
Field of the Community Supported Agriculture in Bonn (Photo: Oleg Ködding-Zurmühlen / DW)

Back to the future

Though an age-old concept, community-supported agriculture is experiencing new popularity in Germany.
June 28, 2016
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Cleaning up the Ogoniland

With Shell slow to clean up its mess in the Ogoniland, an UNEP program is offering help, but the locals are skeptical.
Nature and EnvironmentJune 25, 201603:16 min
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"Recycle Up! Young minds fight pollution

Recycle Up! Ghana (RUG) works with Ghanaian schools to tackle waste in the country.
Nature and EnvironmentJune 25, 201605:10 min
BdW Global Ideas Ghana Plastikmüll am Strand

An ocean of plastic

June 23, 2016
A child stands at oil coated water

Oil pollution

The oil industry has left land and water in Nigeria's Ogoniland unfit for use.
June 23, 2016
Foto: A picture of Yanacocha mine.

Gold versus water

In Peru, mining businesses and indigenous communities are facing off over water resources.
June 14, 2016
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Treatment plans for mines in South Africa

South Africa is to charge mining companies two-thirds of the cost of cleaning up water pollution.
Nature and EnvironmentJune 11, 201603:37 min
Mine excavation machinery against a setting sun

Mining pollution

South Africa is to charge mining companies two-thirds of the cost of cleaning up water pollution.
June 9, 2016
Ein Fisch schwimmt nahe einer Plastiktüte im Roten Meer

Fighting the plastic flood

Millions of tons of plastic waste are clogging the world's oceans, harming fish and other marine life.
June 8, 20168 images
Südafrika Kohleabbau

Coal still reigns supreme in South Africa

Coal mining and coal-fired power plants endanger the health of residents in Mpumalanga Province.
June 6, 201602:28 min
Smog alert in Milan, Italy (Photo: picture-alliance/dpa/Maule/Fotogramma)

EU cities tackle air pollution

Cities in Europe are taking more local action to solve the persistent problem of air pollution.
May 30, 2016
Peru Goldmine in der Region Madre de Dios

Mercury poisons rivers in Peru

Peru has declared an environmental emergency after tests found people had been contaminated with mercury. The toxic element is used in illegal gold mines in the country.
May 24, 201600:40 min
China power station

UN: pollution is deadlier than war

A new United Nations report suggests pollution and global warming is causing millions more deaths than conflicts.
May 23, 2016
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Working together to save Germany's forests

The "Mountain Forest Project" works with volunteers to protect Germany's woodland.
Nature and EnvironmentMay 21, 201601:24 min
Indien Luftverschmutzung in Neu Delhi

Air pollution kills millions every year

Urban air pollution rising and over 80 percent of city dwellers breathe poor quality air, the WHO said in a new report.
May 12, 2016
Aufgeblasener glatter Krallenfrosch

Frogs as hormone detectors

Harmful chemicals in lakes and rivers are often hard to detect. A method involving frogs could help.
Nature and EnvironmentMay 8, 201605:32 min
Durchsuchungen bei Agrar-Großhändlern - Verdacht auf Preisabsprachen (Symbolbild)

EU sues Germany over nitrate-polluted water

The EU Commission has lost patience with Germany over the high concentration of nitrate fertilizer in its ground water.
April 29, 2016
BdW Global Ideas Brasilien Rio de Janeiro Guanabara Bay

Deceptive beauty

April 28, 2016
VW cars ready to be shipped

VW sells more vehicles than Toyota

VW passes archrival Toyota in first-quarter sales amid brisk business in China.
April 26, 2016
Assorted pills

How chemists aim to end pharmaceutical pollution

From antibiotics to pain killers - drugs waste is found in rivers and fish. But chemists say they can end the pollution.
April 7, 2016

VW execs not foregoing bonuses?

"Der Spiegel" reports top VW executives are refusing to forego their bonuses.
April 7, 2016
US VW Passat

US dealership owner sues VW

A US dealership owner has filed a lawsuit against VW over its pollution scandal.
April 6, 2016
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Electro-scooters on the move

Berliners are exploring electric scooters to escape pollution, traffic jams and a shortage of parking spaces.
Cars and TransportationApril 2, 201603:24 min
Abandoned illegal refinery Bayelsa© AP Photo/Sunday Alamba

Three dead in Niger Delta explosion

Activists say an explosion has killed three workers in the heavily polluted Niger Delta.
March 30, 2016
A convoy of trucks carriyng waste from Beirut at the entrance of Al Naemeh landfill in Lebanon

Beirut's trash pile being moved

Trucks in Beirut have started hauling away heaps of garbage after an eight-month dispute over trash.
March 19, 2016
BdW Global Ideas Bild der Woche KW 11/2016 Indien Trinkwasser Ganges

Deadly drinking water

March 18, 2016
VW logo, exhaust pipes

Lackluster clearing-up effort

VW urgently needs to step up efforts to clear up its pollution scandal or face disaster, says DW's Henrik Böhme.
March 18, 2016
Mexiko Smog über Mexiko-Stadt

Air pollution in Mexican capital

Mexico City has advised people to stay indoors and restricted traffic due to air pollution with elevated ozone levels.
March 15, 2016
Fukushima workers in protective clothing stand outside reactor 4 as they continue the radiation decontamination process (Photo: Getty Images/C. Furlong)

Fukushima: radioactivity under control?

Five years ago, one of the largest nuclear disasters began in Fukushima. How is it now and what has been learned?
March 11, 2016
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China introduces environmental protection tax

China says it enhances anti-pollution efforts.
March 11, 201601:00 min
BdW Global Ideas Bild der Woche KW 10/2016 Indien Bangalore Wasserverschmutzung

Dead fish galore

March 10, 2016
BdW Global Ideas Bild der Woche KW 09/2016 Marseille Ausstellung Plastikmüll

What a mess!

March 4, 2016
Audi logo

VW pollution scandal impacts Audi profit

VW subsidiary Audi has reported dwindling profits despite a pickup in sales.
March 3, 2016
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India to tax car sales to reduce air pollution

India has introduced an additional 'green' tax on car sales, aimed at helping fight high levels of air pollution.
March 1, 201601:10 min
Globalideas Teaser – Müll – ohne Logo

Turtle village

Saving sea turtles in India with a mix of education, ecotourism and plastic patrols
March 1, 2016
Coal-fired power plant in China

China energy sector layoffs

Chinese authorities have said a large number of jobs will be slashed in the coal and steel industries.
February 29, 2016
China Umweltverschmutzung Symbolbild

Living Planet: Emerging leaders

This week Living Planet takes a close look at some of the challenges facing India and China - two of the world's emerging key players in the fight against global warming.
Nature and EnvironmentFebruary 25, 201629:59 min
China Peking Smog

Pollution concerns could boost climate action

China's air pollution speeds up implementation of Paris climate agreement
February 25, 2016
China Peking Smog Mundschutz Frau

Tackling China's pollution crisis

Protective masks, air cleansing, smog apps – for many in Beijing, these are all part of everyday life. China's leadership has officially declared war on air pollution, but progress so far has been modest. The problem is complex and effective strategies need time. But people are tired of living under a blanket of smog.
Nature and EnvironmentFebruary 25, 201616:08 min
Fish die-off at Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon near Rio des Janeiro (Photo: picture-alliance/dpa/Scorza)

Alarming rise in mass animal deaths

Thousands of animals have been dramatically dying around the world. Unexplained phenomena, or due to human influence?
February 19, 20167 images
Protest against Rosia Montana mining project in 2013 (Photo: EPA/MIHAI BARBU)

Romanian gold mine victory

Romanian civil society is celebrating its success after a decade of fighting against a gold mining project.
February 17, 2016
Delhi

Air pollution 'kills millions worldwide'

Air pollution is one of the major causes of premature death in the world, scientists have told a major conference.
February 13, 2016

World in Progress: India's coal dilemma

India’s economic development over the coming decades looks set to produce huge amounts of greenhouse gases.
February 3, 201607:45 min
Hipster

LA’s hipster bike trend

LA is known for its cars, heavy smog, air pollution and traffic jams. But could the city’s car reliance soon be a thing of the past? A so-called ‘cycling revolution’ is underway, as more and more locals opt for bicycles over cars. LA has approved a 20-year transportation plan which will see bike lanes sprawled across the city. But as Lena Nozizwe reports, local hipsters are way ahead of the curve.
January 28, 201606:19 min
Iran KW49 ISNA

Living Planet: It’s personal

When it comes to the threats our planet faces, it can often feel a bit doom and gloom. Can our individual actions really make a difference? This week on Living Planet, we meet some passionate people who just might inspire you. We hear tales of unconventional love for trees, and find out why hipsters are driving LA’s bicycle trend.
January 28, 201629:59 min
BdW Global Ideas Bild der Woche KW 03/2016 Braunkohlekraftwerk

Hot winter

January 28, 2016
The remains of Bento Rodrigues, Mariana mining disaster Brazil. © Sam Cowie

A social and environmental catastrophe

Two months after Brazil's largest environmental disaster, a clearer picture is emerging as to the extent of the impacts.
January 27, 2016