A review with 132 refs. covering the origin, development, importance, and future tasks of green chemistry with particular ref. to catalysts, esp. in catalyzed combustion, exhaust (automotive) gas aftertreatment, redn. of NOx, removal of org. CI compds. and VOCs, and appIn. (zeolites, clays) in org. (bio)syntheses and under supercrit. (CO2) conditions.