Germany’s environment agency said on Wednesday that the country cut its greenhouse gases emissions by 1.9% last year after it was helped by higher renewable electricity output and energy conservation.
Output fell to 746 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent and is down 40.4% from comparable 1990 levels. However, it remains well above a 2030 target of 438 million tonnes set out in Germany’s climate legislation, according to preliminary data from the environment agency, UBA.
“In order to meet climate targets up to 2030, we have to cut emissions by 6% each year,” said Dirk Messner, president of the UBA, which reports to the environment ministry.
“Since 2010, we have not even achieved an average 2% drop per year.”
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The UBA said the report will spur government plans for immediate measures to hike green energy capacity.
It also said emissions from the utility industry rose by 4.5% to 256 million tonnes but stayed below a cap of 257 million tonnes as Russia reduced deliveries of gas has led to increase in the use of highly polluting coal for power generation.
The transport sector emissions rose 0.7% to 148 million tonnes, 9 million tonnes above their 2022 target as road traffic picked up after the coronavirus pandemic eased while building sectors emissions fell 5.3% as it was helped by mild weather and energy conservation by industry and households but still overshot a target of 107 million as it peaked at 112 million tonnes .
The UBA data comes ahead of official European Union 2022 data on member state emissions which inform the carbon allowances market.
Story was adapted from Reuters.
