Germany achieved its national target for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024, but failed to accomplish a stricter EU goal, a leading environmental think tank said on Tuesday.
According to calculations by Agora Energiewende, Germany last year emitted a total of 656 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents, a term used to compare emissions of different gases.
The figure was 2.7% lower than the previous year’s 674 million tons, and represents a historic new low for Europe’s largest economy, the think tank said.
German emissions are down by 48% compared to 1990, the year of reunification.
“Germany overachieved its annual reduction target under the Climate Protection Act by 36 million tonnes,” the group said.
“However, due to insufficient emissions reductions in buildings and transport, Germany missed European climate targets agreed as part of the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) by an estimated 12 million tonnes of CO2,” it added.
Under the ESR, European Union countries have committed to reduce emissions harmful to the climate quicker in sectors including buildings, agriculture, transport and waste.
“Climate protection measures taken in recent years are increasingly having an effect on the electricity sector,” said Simon Müller, director for Germany at Agora Energiewende.
“With a significant increase in renewable energy and the positive trend in grid expansion, Germany is paving the way for a successful transformation in all sectors,” Müller added. “At the same time, the country is increasingly benefiting from falling emissions and cheaper prices on the electricity exchange.”
(dpa)