Germany cut CO2 emissions by 3.4% last year and is on track to meet its 2030 target

Germany emitted 649 million tonnes of CO2 last year, a year-on-year decrease of 3.4% and more than 44 million tonnes below its legally binding target for 2024. Reuters reported, citing information from the German Federal Environment Agency.

Germany’s decarbonisation goal is to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 65% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels, and then achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. Last year’s 3.4% year-on-year decrease put the country on track to meet the nearer of these targets.

“Looking ahead to 2030, I believe we will achieve our national climate target,” said Economy and Climate Action Minister Robert Habeck.

Power sector led the decline, while transport and buildings lag behind

According to Reuters, Germany is nevertheless likely to fall significantly short of the targets set out in the European Effort Sharing Regulation for 2021 to 2030, mainly due to insufficient progress in decarbonising the transport and heating (buildings) sectors. Emissions in these sectors fell year on year by 1.4% and 2.3%, respectively, according to the published figures.

The overall year-on-year decrease of 3.4% in CO2 emissions was driven primarily by the power generation sector, thanks to the continued growth of renewable electricity generation. According to the published data, renewables accounted for around 54% of Germany’s gross electricity consumption last year.