Germany is aiming to reduce GHG emissions by at least 65 % by 2030 compared to 1990 emission levels. CO2 neutrality is to be achieved by 2045, followed by net-zero emissions by 2050.
The Overall Amount of GHG emissions
Germany’s overall GHG emissions are to be reduced by at least 65% by 2030 (excl land-use, land use change and forestry) compared to 1990 levels. This will be roughly 438 million tonnes in 2030. These greenhouse gas reduction targets are binding until 2040 and legally fixed in the August 2021 amendment to the Climate Protection Act. As this indicator reflects the numerical progress of Germany’s efforts in decarbonizing its economy, it has a 100% reliability.
Baseline measure: 1242 million tonnes (1990); 729 million tonnes (2020) and max 438 million tn (2030)
Breakdown of the three biggest GHG
- GHG emissions energy sector (Annually)
Germany’s energy industry has the highest impact on the country’s overall GHG emissions and bears the largest source, accounting for 82.8% in 2020. The industry will have to reduce its annual emissions from 280 million metric tons of CO₂e in 2020 to an allowed maximum of 175 – 183 million metric tons of CO₂e in 2030 (1990: 466 million metric tons), 62-61% less than in 1990.
- GHG emissions industrial sector
Germany’s building sector has the second-largest impact on the country’s overall GHG emissions. The industry will have to reduce its annual emissions from 280 million metric tons of CO₂e in 2020 to an allowed maximum of 140 – 143 million metric tons of CO₂e in 2030 (1990: 283 million metric tons), 49-51% less than in 1990.
- GHG emissions transport sector
Germany’s building sector has the third-largest impact on the country’s overall GHG emissions. The industry will have to reduce its annual emissions from 280 million metric tons of CO₂e in 2020 to an allowed maximum of 95 – 98 million metric tons of CO₂e in 2030 (1990: 163 million metric tons), 40-42% less than in 1990.
The data will be provided by Germany’s Federal Environmental Agency and through the GHG inventory of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) database. Both data sources will be assessed on a yearly and bi-yearly basis. Esp. the UNFCCC GHG inventory receives a major update June/July when countries that are part of the convention and Kyoto protocol must submit their annual GHG inventory.)
https://unfccc.int/ghg-inventories-annex-i-parties/2021
Number of Hybrid Plug-In Electric Vehicles (Annually)
To meet the climate target for the transportation sector, emissions from traffic and transport need to drop by nearly 42%. 60% of GHG emissions from transport in Germany are attributable to passenger cars alone. In September 2021, Germany counted over one million plug-in electric passenger cars and is aiming to have seven to ten million EV’s registered by 2030. This means that around half of all new cars should be e-cars in each of the next nine years. At present, 10% of the three million new commercial vehicles registered each year are e-cars. By the end of the 2020s, that would have to rise to nine out of ten. New cars 2021: 2.62M (roughly 26% of it are hybrid plug-in EV’s – hybrid plug-in 12,4 + 13.58% pure electric).
The reliability of this indicator to measure Germany’s progress on GHG reduction in the energy and transport sector is significantly high. As the overall car sales and shares of EV’s are taken into consideration, this indicator can determine the progress in this sector numerically and therefore precisely. Plug-in baseline measure since September 2021- 1,178,178 plug-in electric passenger cars (since 2010), consisting of 599,254 all-electric cars and 578,924 plug-in hybrids.
The data relies on the reports from the Kraftfahrt Bundesamt (KBA), which is the Federal Motor Transport Authority, a higher federal authority in the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport. Data will be updated Bi-annually or annually.
Gross*[1] Amount of Renewable Energy Usage in Electricity Consumptions (Annually)
Germany’s energy industry has the highest impact on the country’s overall GHG emissions and bears the largest source, accounting for 82.8% in 2020. Expansion of the share of renewable energies in gross electricity consumption to 65% by 2030. The current share in gross electricity consumption is 46% 2020 (wind 125,9 Mrd. kWh, PV 48.6 Mrd. kWh, biomass 50,9 Mrd. kWh, hydropower 18.3Mrd. kWh, geothermal 0.2 Mrd. kWh).
The reliability of this indicator to measure Germany’s progress on GHG emissions reduction in the energy sector is also significantly high. It has a direct impact on the evaluation of the countries performance and shifts in GHG emissions. The data will be assessed through the annual reporting of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWI).
https://www.bmwi.de/Redaktion/DE/Dossier/erneuerbare-energien.html
CO2 price increase for transport and buildings (Annually)
Germany passed an amendment to the Fuel Emission Trading Act (BEHG) in October 2020, with the result of a national emissions trading since January 2021. Ever since companies need to pay a fixed CO2 price of 25€/tn CO2 – this is also including the transport sector. Gradually, the price shall be increased to €55/tn by 2025. Afterwards, Germany is aiming for a further increase up to 65€/tn CO2 (tba). Data will be retrieved by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection and public sources. It will be updated on an annual basis.
| PERFORMANCE INDICATOR | BASELINE VALUE | DATE |
| GHG emissions (overall)
· Energy sector · Industrial sector · Transport sector |
729 million tonnes CO2e
175-183 million tonnes CO2e 140 – 143 million metric tons of CO₂e 95 – 98 million metric tons of CO₂e |
Jan, 2021 |
| No of hybrid plug-in electric vehicles | 1,178,178 million plug-in electric cars | Sep, 2021 |
| Renewable energy usage in electricity consumption (gross amount) | 46% (wind 125,9 Mrd. kWh, PV 48.6 Mrd. kWh, biomass 50,9 Mrd. kWh, hydropower 18.3Mrd. kWh, geothermal 0.2 Mrd. kWh) | Jan, 2021 |
| CO2 price | 30€/tn CO2 | Jan, 2022 |
This report was submitted by Climate Scorecard Germany Country Manager Cimberly Gross
Image: NicoElNino/Shutterstock
[1] Gross electricity consumption comprises the final energy consumption of electricity, as well as the associated conversion and transmission losses. It is defined as a reference value for the share of renewable energies according to the energy concept and in EC Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and, along with the consumption of heat and fuels, is an important component of final energy consumption- Federal Environmental Agency