Status: 03/15/2023 2:55 pm
Germany reached its 2022 climate target and emitted less greenhouse gases than the previous year. This is mainly due to a decline in manufacturing, while sectors such as transport and energy emit more.
Germany emitted less greenhouse gases last year and thus achieved its climate target. Emissions fell 1.9% to 746 million tonnes from a year earlier, according to the Federal Environment Agency.
Problem areas: energy, transport, buildings
In the energy sector, gas consumption dropped, but more coal was burned. Energy emissions increased by 4.4% to 256 million tonnes – but the sector barely met its climate target.
The transport and construction sectors missed their climate targets. In the transport sector, emissions increased by 0.7% to 148 million tonnes of greenhouse gases. In the construction sector, emissions fell 5.3% to 112 million tonnes, but the sector has yet to meet the climate target.
decline thanks to industry
The fact that the overall target was achieved, however, is due to a sharp reduction in emissions from the industry. Here, the amount of greenhouse gases emitted fell by 10.4% to 164 million tonnes. According to the Federal Environment Agency, this is due to the fact that fewer pigs were reared and less mineral fertilizers were used.
The share of renewables continues to grow – but very slowly
According to the Federal Office, the share of renewable energies in gross final energy consumption increased to more than 20% for the first time. Gross final energy consumption refers to the consumption of electricity, heat and fuel. In gross electricity consumption, which concerns only the electricity sector, the weight of renewables was 46.2 percent.
However, the president of the Federal Environment Agency, Dirk Messner, warned against haste: “We must be able to install three times more capacity than before to increase the share of renewable sources in electricity generation to 80% by 2030” . Because to meet the federal government’s climate goals, “emissions must now be reduced by six percent a year.” This means a drastic acceleration of expansion, since since 2010 the annual reduction is less than two percent.
Ministries must present immediate measures
The Federal Office emission data is now being verified by the Council of Experts on Climate Issues, which has one month to do so. Ministries responsible for transport and buildings then have three months to come up with an immediate program to meet the climate targets.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of the text said that the energy sector also missed its climate target. This is not the case: although emissions in this area have increased, the climate target has only just been reached. We adjust the paragraph.
Climate targets met: Federal Environment Agency presents greenhouse gas balance for 2022
Philip Brost, ARD Berlin, March 15, 2023 11:42 am