EXCLUSIVE Germany’s greenhousegas emissions rose in 2021. Environment agency

Steam rises from the cooling rooms of the RWE coal power plant in Niederaussem (Germany), March 3, 2016. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File Photo

BERLIN, 14 March (Reuters) – Germany’s greenhouse gases grew by just under 5% last yr compared to 2020, UBA, the federal environment agency, said in Monday’s annual report, which was seen by Reuters. This is as Europe’s largest economy has recovered from the coronavirus epidemic.

The agency stated in its report that although emissions rose lastyear, they were 39% lower than 1990 levels.

This report will be an urgent addition to plans by the three way government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz for almost doubling the share of renewables to around 80% by 2030. It also intends to wean the economy from oil and gas imports from Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

Germany exceeded its 2020 emissions reduction targets by 40%, compared with 1990 levels. It also reduced them by almost 41% due to a sharp decline in economic activity during pandemic.

UBA will present its report Tuesday. It found that Germany produced 762 million tonnes (CO2) last year, 33 M tonnes more than 2020.

The report revealed that transport and buildings exceeded their emission targets, while industry and agriculture met them.

Germany wants to reduce its carbon emissions by 65% in the next decade, compared with 1990 levels.

The Economy Ministry will announce plans by Easter that outline concrete steps to achieve this goal.

This strategy will include increasing electrification in the transport sector, improving energy efficiency, building a hydrogen production capacity, and expanding wind farms rapidly.

Robert Habeck, Economy Minister has not ruled Germany from missing its climate goals up to 2023 when steps to transition the country toward a carbon-free future will start to show results.

Writing by Joseph Nasr, Editing by Jan Harvey & Jane Merriman

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