BERLIN (Reuters). Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions increased by just under 5% in 2018 compared to 2020, according to the UBA federal environment agency. This was Monday’s annual report, which was seen by Reuters on Monday. The report came as Europe’s largest economy has recovered from the coronavirus epidemic.
According to the report, although emissions rose last year, they were 39% less than 1990 levels.
The report will accelerate plans by the three-way government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, to almost double renewable energy’s share to about 80% by 2030, and to eliminate Russian oil and gas imports after 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.
Political Cartoons of World Leaders
UBA plans to present its report Tuesday. The UBA found that Germany emitted 762 Million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the last year, 33 millions tonnes more than in 2020.
The report showed that transport and buildings exceeded their emission goals, while industry met theirs.
Germany plans to reduce its emissions by 65% by the decade’s end, compared to 1990 levels.
The Economy Ministry plans to release plans by Easter setting forth concrete steps to reach this goal.
The strategy will accelerate electrification of transport, improve energy efficiency of buildings, increase hydrogen production capacity, and expand wind farms quickly.
Robert Habeck, Economy Minister, has not ruled Germany out of its climate goals until 2023 when steps are taken to transition the economy to a CO2-free future.
(Writing by Joseph Nasr, Editing by Jan Harvey, Jane Merriman)
Copyright 2022 Thomson Reuters.
