First estimates - Success or cause for concern? Debate about significant CO2 minus
It sounds good news, but it doesn't only have pleasant reasons: In the past year, the emission of climate-damaging greenhouse gases in Baden-Württemberg has reached the lowest level since 1990. According to estimates by the Statistical Office, emissions decreased significantly in 2023: Compared to the previous year, the output fell by 9.3 tons or approximately 13 percent to 62.7 million tons. The Southwest Broadcasting reported this first.
The statisticians, however, do not attribute the significant decline primarily to climate protection measures. Instead, they attribute a large part of it to economic stagnation and high energy prices, as the Office in Fellbach near Stuttgart states. The energy sector in particular showed a strong decline. Due to the weak economy, less energy was demanded, which in turn led to less coal being burned.
The CO2 emissions of industry also decreased significantly, according to the report, mainly due to production reductions caused by the economy. As further reasons for the decrease in CO2 emissions, the statisticians mention more electricity imports, fewer electricity exports, more electricity from renewable energies, and a mild winter, during which less heating was required.
Environmental Minister speaks of great success
The Environmental Ministry emphasized that the strong decline in coal-fired power generation was not only due to decreased demand but also the end of the gas crisis. Since gas was explosively expensive in 2022, coal-fired power plants were even brought back into reserve. However, this was no longer the case in 2023.
Environmental Minister Thekla Walker (Greens) called the significant reduction in emissions a great success. "Citizens are installing solar panels on their balconies or roofs, they are renovating their heating systems, they are saving energy. Companies are switching to climate-friendly production, municipalities are driving the energy transition forward, and authorities are making progress in the approval of renewable energy facilities," said Walker. The energy transition is working.
Sharp criticism from the AfD fraction in the parliament came, however, from the AfD's environmental policy spokesperson Uwe Hellstern. He accused the Green politician of being worldly. "The fact that CO2 emissions here are declining is no reason to celebrate, but rather a reason for concern," said Hellstern. The reasons for the decline are not climate laws but a production reduction and production relocation abroad.
Climate goals still far away
Even if emissions in 2023 have significantly decreased: In order to achieve the climate goals of the state, Baden-Württemberg would have to emit only about half the emissions of the year 2023 in 2030, the Statistical Office stated.
The transport sector remains a cause for concern. With about one third of all emissions, it is responsible for the largest share of CO2 emissions. And as the only sector, it could not report any reduction in 2023. The statisticians estimate that cars and trucks produced even slightly more greenhouse gases in the previous year than in 2022. In comparison to 1990, the emissions of this sector are stagnating.
Traffic Minister Winfried Hermann spoke of disappointing results. "Germany's way out of the climate crisis is running better at times and worse at others. Generally moving in the right direction, but too slowly," said the Green politician. However, transportation remains an open flank. Therefore, we have intensified the expansion of public transportation. "If the number of driven kilometers with cars does not decrease, the car kilometers must become climate-friendly. The shift to electric cars is a decisive contribution that car owners can make," Hermann added.
The environmental association BUND demanded sharper measures in the transportation sector. "If we want another mobility, it won't happen without a significant restriction of car traffic," said Landeschefin Sylvia Pilarsky-Grosch.
Should we continue to focus on sector targets?
The climate policy spokesperson for the FDP faction, Daniel Karrais, demanded improvements in climate protection. "The narrow-mindedness of sector targets leads to some of them clearly missing the mark. An example is the renewed increase in CO2 emissions in the transport sector last year," said Karrais. Realistic and holistic targets are needed that can be reconciled with economic growth.
The Bund had recently passed a corresponding reform of the Climate Protection Law, according to which the observance of climate targets should no longer be controlled retroactively according to sectors, but future-oriented, multi-year, and sector-overarching.
Minister-President Kretschmann (Greens) had shown himself open for a debate on sector targets in the state in April. We must always set climate targets in relation to available measures and once again check how ambitious goals can be, how the economy and the population can cope with them, where there is legal regulation and where instead promotion is needed. "We must indeed compose and debate this anew," said Kretschmann.
- The news of reduced greenhouse gas emissions in Baden-Württemberg was initially reported by Southwest Broadcasting.
- According to the Statistical Office's estimates, emissions in 2023 decreased significantly, mainly due to economic stagnation and high energy prices.
- Winfried Hermann, the Transport Minister, expressed disappointment with the transport sector, as it continues to be a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
- The Environmental Ministry attributed the significant decline in CO2 emissions to various factors, including production reductions, more electricity imports, fewer electricity exports, and a mild winter.
- Uwe Hellstern, the AfD's environmental policy spokesperson, criticized Green politician Thekla Walker for celebrating the decrease in emissions, stating that the reasons were not due to climate laws but production reduction and production relocation abroad.
- Thekla Walker, the Environmental Minister, highlighted the efforts of citizens, companies, municipalities, and authorities in contributing to the energy transition.
- The transport sector would need to emit only half the current emissions in 2030 to meet the state's climate goals, as per the Statistical Office's statements.
