“On course”
CO2 emissions in Germany have fallen dramatically – the climate target for 2030 is within reach
Wind and solar power plants in Schleswig-Holstein: “If we stay on course, we will achieve our goal Climate goals 2030.”
© Daniel Reinhardt / Imago Images
Reducing greenhouse gases, expanding renewable energies – Germany has major climate goals for the coming years. In 2023, the country will have achieved its climate goals for the first time.
Germany has achieved its climate target for 2023. At 673 million tons, around ten percent fewer greenhouse gases were emitted than in 2022, the Climate Ministry and the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) announced on Friday morning. This is the sharpest decline since reunification in 1990.
The main reasons are that less coal was burned in power plants and also that the German economy was weaker. However, looking at the individual sectors, it is clear that despite improvement, both the transport and building sectors have once again failed to meet their legal requirements. Climate Minister Robert Habeck was nevertheless pleased: “Germany is on track – for the first time. If we stay on track, we will achieve our 2030 climate goals.” It turns out that the efforts paid off.
Germany wants to be climate neutral by 2045
The Federal Environment Agency also stated that specifications for the next few years would also have to be created based on a projection. “Looking ahead to 2030, I am confident that we can meet the national goals,” said UBA President Dirk Messner. “We have already made a lot of progress in climate protection. This is mainly due to the faster expansion of renewable energy such as wind and solar power.
Germany wants to reduce its emissions by 65 percent by 2030 compared to 1990. Currently it is around 46 percent. Germany should be climate-neutral by 2045, meaning that the bottom line is that it will no longer produce any greenhouse gas at all.