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Emissions in Germany that are harmful to the climate have fallen slightly in 2022

Despite the massive use of coal-fired power in the 2022 energy crisis, Germany reduced its greenhouse gas emissions.

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Emissions in Germany that are harmful to the climate have fallen slightly in 2022

Despite the massive use of coal-fired power in the 2022 energy crisis, Germany reduced its greenhouse gas emissions. Overall, it fell by 1.9 percent to around 746 million tons compared to the previous year, the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) announced on Wednesday in Berlin. Compared to 1990, emissions fell by 40.4 percent.

The energy sector, as the largest CO₂ producer, was therefore able to just meet its target, although more coal was burned to produce electricity - however, electricity generation from renewable energies also increased.

On the other hand, traffic failed to meet its legal obligations for the second time in a row, despite the 9-euro ticket, high fuel prices and more electric cars. It was even the only sector to increase its emissions by over a million tons compared to 2021 because more cars and trucks were on the road. The buildings sector was able to reduce emissions, but also missed the targets.

Greenhouse gas emissions in Germany fell by 1.9 percent last year. As the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) announced on Wednesday, CO₂ emissions in the energy sector increased due to the increased use of coal-fired power plants. The areas of transport and buildings tore again the requirements of the Climate Protection Act. UBA President Dirk Messner called for a significantly faster expansion of renewable energies in order to still achieve the climate targets for 2030.

Germany must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 65 percent by 2030 compared to 1990. Climate neutrality is to be achieved by 2045, so the bottom line is that practically no more CO₂ can escape into the atmosphere. The Climate Protection Act therefore contains upper limits for emissions for each individual sector and each year. Those who miss their targets - like traffic and buildings now - have to get back on track with an immediate program.

In view of this, the Greens see an urgent need for action by Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP). The new emissions figures from the Federal Environment Agency for the past year are "a disaster," said Greens traffic expert Stefan Gelbhaar on Wednesday. "Everything that is achieved in other sectors is currently falling through the fingers again in traffic." For many months, Wissing has owed an immediate program with sufficient measures that effectively and permanently reduce CO2 emissions in traffic. Real climate protection measures are missing, the climate protection law is broken again and again.

Yellow hair demanded that it was overdue for the ministry to change course. There are enough suggestions. These included a reduction in climate-damaging subsidies, massive investments in buses and trains, better conditions for cycling and walking, an accelerated turnaround in drive systems for cars and a right to work from home. "A quick, effective immediate measure would of course also be a speed limit."

The federal government is also currently working on a comprehensive climate protection program in order to be able to achieve the goals in the coming years. According to the law, the annual progress must be much higher in the future than last. The climate protection program is currently stuck, mainly because of disputes between the climate protection and transport ministries.

In the energy sector, however, emissions increased by 4.4 percent to 256 million tons. According to the Federal Environment Agency, emissions from hard coal and lignite-fired power plants used to generate electricity and heat have risen for the second time in a row. They were increasingly used to compensate for bottlenecks in natural gas supplies caused by the Ukraine war. Gas consumption was 10.8 percent below the previous year.

Emissions from traffic increased by 0.7 percent to 148 million tons. According to the Federal Environment Agency, this area is "the only sector" that has recorded an increase compared to the previous year and does not meet the requirements of the Federal Climate Protection Act.

The building sector once again exceeded the maximum amount specified in the Federal Climate Protection Act. However, emissions fell by 5.3 percent to 112 million tons. Industry, meanwhile, saw emissions fall by 10.4 percent to 164 million tons, in line with targets.

In agriculture, emissions fell by 1.5 percent to 62 million tons. According to the UBA, the main reason is a further decline in the number of pigs and a lower use of mineral fertilizers. In the waste sector, meanwhile, emissions fell by 4.5 percent to 4.3 million tons.

According to the authority, renewable energies covered more than a fifth of gross energy consumption for the first time last year (20.4 percent; 2021: 19.2 percent). The strong growth in renewable energies in the electricity sector was particularly decisive. Their share rose to 46.2 percent (2021: 41.2 percent).

But according to UBA boss Messner, this is far from enough. "We have to manage to install three times as much capacity as before in order to increase the share of renewables in electricity generation to 80 percent by 2030," he explained. Because in order to achieve the climate goals of the federal government, "emissions must now be reduced by six percent per year". This would be a drastic acceleration. Because since 2010, according to Messner, it has been “less than two percent” per year on average.

The emissions data for 2022 are now being examined by the Expert Council on Climate Issues. He has a month to do this. After that, the ministries responsible for transport and buildings each have three months to present an immediate program to achieve the climate targets. The federal government is already working on this based on the results of last year.

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