BERLIN: Germany’s carbon dioxide emissions in 2023 fell to their lowest level since the 1950s because of less coal-fired power and reduced output by energy-intensive industries, said a study on Thursday.
However, according to the study the decline is unsustainable without climate policy changes.
Germany aims to cut down its greenhouse emissions by 65% by the year 2030, a move to becoming carbon neutral by 2045.
A study by the Berlin-based Agora Energiewende think tank showed the CO2 emissions in Germany last year fell to 673 million tonnes, the lowest level since the 1950s, 46% below 1990 and beating the government’s 2023 climate objective of 722 million tonnes.
The change occurred due to an increase in domestic renewable energy production which now has a share of over 50%. The study said due to rise in imported electricity, coal-fired electricity production fell to its lowest level since the 1960s and contributed to 44 million tonnes of CO2 savings.
German economy minister Robert Habeck has advocated an earlier exit by 2030, as the country aims to phase out coal by 2038.
As per study Industry emissions met government targets, falling 12% year-on-year, at 144 million tonnes, following an 11% drop in energy-intensive output.
Think tank Director Simon Mueller in a statement said the consequences of the fossil energy crisis and the slowdown in the economy are particularly obvious in the CO2 emissions of energy-intensive industries.
Despite the overall drop, the buildings and transport sector have fallen short of government emissions targets in recent years, missing their 2023 goal.
Mueller added that a bill introduced last year to encourage green energy and communal heating must be implemented quickly to put the sector back on track by 2030.
According to the study meeting 2030 CO2 targets needed financing from the government, which has become significantly tighter.
