CO2 emissions at lowest level since 1950s according to study
According to a study, Germany's CO2 emissions are falling. Nevertheless, the authors do not see this as a particularly great success for climate protection. What has been saved in terms of CO2 is largely due to temporary effects.
According to a study, lower coal consumption and a tepid economy have caused greenhouse gas emissions in Germany to fall to their lowest level for around 70 years. According to preliminary calculations, greenhouse gas emissions last year amounted to 673 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), according to Agora Energiewende, a lobby association and think tank. This is 73 million tons less than in 2022 and 46 percent less than in 1990, well below the annual target of a maximum of 722 million tons of CO2 derived from the Climate Protection Act.
The authors of the study attribute only around 15 percent of the reduction to permanent savings and the expansion of renewable energies, and around half to short-term effects such as lower electricity consumption. The lower emissions are also due to the weakness of German industry, with production in energy-intensive industry in particular slumping. However, according to Agora, the main reason for the improved climate balance is that less electricity was generated from the climate-damaging burning of coal last year. This in turn was due to the price-related decline in electricity consumption of 3.9 percent compared to 2022 and a strong year for electricity from renewable energies across Europe, according to the authors of the study. Renewable energies also increased in Germany.
Higher energy prices push consumption down
Emissions could also rise again due to the economic situation, the study continues. In addition, the buildings and transport sectors have once again failed to meet their climate targets. CO2 emissions in these sectors have remained virtually unchanged. The main reason for this is the slow pace of electrification with e-cars and heating in buildings. The decline in CO2 emissions had been expected after the Federal Network Agency had previously announced that far less electricity was generated from the climate-damaging burning of coal in 2023. According to Agora, this is the main reason for the improved carbon footprint.
According to the authors of the study entitled "The energy transition in Germany: state of play 2023", which will be presented in Berlin this Thursday, the fact that less coal-fired electricity was generated was due to a price-related decline in electricity consumption of 3.9 percent compared to 2022 and a strong year for electricity from renewable energies across Europe. According to Agora, this is compounded by declines in production in the energy-intensive industry due to the crisis and economic situation. Renewable energies are also on the rise in Germany.
Habeck: Saving energy is also possible with higher production
Economics and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck expressed his delight at the falling CO2 emissions in Germany. "The energy sector is really delivering," the Green politician told Bayerischer Rundfunk in reference to the think tank's calculations. However, he also called for more money to be invested in the climate-friendly restructuring of the economy. The expansion of solar power is "going through the roof" and the number of permits for wind power is also rising sharply, said Habeck. Accordingly, less coal is now being burned.
However, Habeck expressed concern about the decline in production in the German economy. "Of course, without question, we produced too little last year and the economy was too weak," said the minister. However, Habeck contradicted claims that the progress made in reducing CO2 emissions would be undone if the German economy improved again. "The economy itself is fully on the climate protection path." It is possible to produce well and still save energy, emphasized the Green politician.
However, he called for more money to be spent on the climate-friendly restructuring of the economy. Habeck therefore criticized the design of the debt brake in the Basic Law in its current form. This dates back to a time when the USA had not yet launched any subsidy programs, Russian gas was available and China was still the "friendly workbench". "We have tied our hands behind our backs a bit and are now in a boxing match," criticized Habeck. Germany must now do everything it can to ensure that the industry is not "lured away or subsidized away".
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- Despite Germany reducing its CO2 emissions to their lowest level since the 1950s due to less coal consumption and a weak economy, the authors of a study argue that this is not a significant success for climate protection, as most of the reduction is temporary.
- The government's target for a maximum of 722 million tons of CO2 derivatives from the Climate Protection Act was met in 2023 due to less coal-fired electricity generation, lower electricity consumption, and a strong year for renewable energies across Europe.
- Robert Habeck, the German Economics and Climate Protection Minister, acknowledged that the economy was weaker in 2023 but claimed that it was still on the climate protection path, and production could be increased while reducing energy use.
- Habeck criticized the debt brake in the German Basic Law, which restricts government spending, and called for more financial support to ensure that the industry remains in Germany and does not rely on subsidies or relocate to other countries.
Source: www.ntv.de
