Study: Germany hits climate target
German greenhouse gas emissions have almost halved against 1990 levels. But there is still room for improvement in climate action.
Berlin (dpa) - Germany achieved its self-imposed climate targets last year, according to calculations by the Agora Energiewende thinktank. The data shows that Germany emitted 656 million tonnes of carbon equivalents last year. Emissions have fallen for three years in succession to a new historic low. Agora claims that German emissions have fallen by 48% compared to 1990 levels.
At the same time, the thinktank estimates that Germany missed its EU climate target by 12 million tonnes of carbon. Demand for climate-friendly technologies such as heat pumps and electric cars slumped last year. “A key driver behind the lack of structural climate action in the industry, construction and transport sectors is a lack of confidence in households and businesses,” said Simon Müller, Director at Agora Energiewende Germany. In Müller’s view, this has made investors cautious.
Germany aims to achieve 65% reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, and reach climate neutrality by 2045. Under European guidelines, Germany must halve its emissions by 2030 against 2005 levels.