The energy economy has considerable influence on the environment. This requires a precautionary energy policy which restricts the environmental damages on an ecological acceptable level. In an overview, the essay describes the influences of energetic activities on the environment, shows causes of too high a demand and ways to a solution of the conflict between energy and environment. In these approaches to solutions, the energy-political instruments play an important role. The author introduces the most important instruments chosen for Germany, and finally indicates directions of what an efficient environmental protection by maintaining the interests of the energy-economic requirements should look like.