Buildings and traffic miss targets

DGermany has, despite the massive use of coal-fired power in the energy crisis Achieved its climate target in 2022. The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) announced on Wednesday in Berlin that greenhouse gas emissions fell by 1.9 percent compared to the previous year to around 746 million tons. Compared to 1990, emissions fell by 40.4 percent. The energy sector, as the largest CO2 producer, was therefore able to just barely meet its target with increased use of coal.

On the other hand, the traffic missed despite the 9-euro ticket, high fuel prices and more electric cars its legal obligations for the second consecutive year. It was even the only sector to increase its emissions by over a million tons compared to 2021 because more cars and trucks were on the road. The buildings sector was able to reduce emissions, but also missed the target.

Germany must be greenhouse gas-Reduce emissions by 65 percent by 2030 compared to 1990. Climate neutrality is to be achieved by 2045, so the bottom line is that practically no more CO2 can escape into the atmosphere.

UBA President: The expansion of renewable energies is crucial

UBA President Dirk Messner warned that although the overall target was met, emissions would have to be reduced by six percent every year up to 2030. Since 2010 it has not even been two percent. “A and O is a much faster pace in the expansion of renewable energies,” he said. “There shouldn’t be a stalemate like in the last few years.” Decarbonization must include all areas – from industrial production and the building sector to mobility and agriculture.

Due to the increased use of coal, emissions from power plants rose by 4.4 percent. In return, less natural gas was burned and 9 percent more electricity was generated from wind, solar or water. In the industrial sector, emissions fell significantly by 19 million tons of CO2 or 10.4 percent in 2022. The sharp rise in energy prices caused by the war in Ukraine had an impact here, particularly in the metal and chemical industries.

In the Climate Protection Act there are upper limits for emissions for each individual sector and each year. Those who miss their targets – like traffic and buildings now – have to get back on track with an immediate program. These programs are reviewed by an independent panel of experts. The federal government is also currently working on a comprehensive climate protection program in order to be able to achieve the goals in all sectors in the coming years. However, it is currently stuck mainly due to disputes between the climate protection and transport ministries.

Climate activists castigate government failures

The climate protection movement Fridays for Future accuses the government coalition of irresponsible inertia and in particular the FDP of a targeted blockade policy. “Today will be a black day for the federal government, for the climate and for all the people who counted on the fact that traffic lights can be relied on when it comes to climate,” said the activist Luisa Neubauer of the German Press Agency in im In the run-up to the prognosis of the Federal Environment Agency.

Neubauer said the figures from the Federal Environment Agency should have consequences. “In 2023, you can no longer explain to anyone how a government that has both the majority of the population behind it and the necessary concepts at hand willingly incites climate chaos instead of making the necessary contribution to prevent disasters.”