The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) is responsible for a range of government policies that are reflected in the name of the ministry itself. The ministry has been working for 40 years to protect the public from environmental toxins and radiation, to promote the wise and efficient use of raw materials, to advance climate action and to ensure that natural resources are used in a way that protects the diversity of animal and plant species and preserves their habitats.

The BMUKN is responsible for preventing food safety risks resulting from anthropogenic impacts from the air, water and soil (environmental contaminants). The ministry's work is supported by specialist authorities within its remit; these include the Federal Environmental Agency (UBA), the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS). Effective environmental protection is key for the production of healthy, largely uncontaminated food. The BMEHL is responsible for all other areas of food safety. The BfR and the BVL, the competent technical authorities in food safety, support the BMLEH and the BMUKN in the performance of their respective tasks.

The structure and name of the ministry was changed by the organisational decree of the Federal Chancellor of 6 May 2025. In addition to the focal areas of environmental protection, nature conservation and nuclear safety, the BMUKN has since been fully responsible for climate protection policy again. The BMUKN therefore shapes the future of issues related to people and their living environments. It drives economic, environmental and social modernisation.