The traffic light government wants to massively promote the expansion of renewable energies. The impending failure of Russian energy supplies makes this even more urgent. The need to catch up is huge.
According to provisional figures, Germany’s emissions of climate-damaging greenhouse gases rose by 4.5 percent last year.
The target of 40 percent less greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990, which was actually set for 2020, was still missed a year later. In a long-term comparison, emissions fell by only 38.7 percent. This emerges from data from the Federal Environment Agency and the Ministry of Economics and Climate on Tuesday.
Department head Robert Habeck (Greens) had already announced that he would miss the goal at the beginning of the year. The figures are still provisional. Final values will not be available until early 2023.
Overall, Germany emitted 33 million tons more climate-damaging gases last year than in the previous year. “Almost half of the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 has already been lost,” complained the head of the Federal Office, Dirk Messner. “Our figures clearly show that the goals of the federal government must be addressed as soon as possible.” According to earlier information from the Federal Office, part of the lower emissions in 2020 was attributable to the corona pandemic, due to falling mobility and production declines.
The aim is to make Germany greenhouse gas neutral by 2045 – by then all greenhouse gases must be avoided or bound again. The interim target for 2030 provides savings of 65 percent compared to 1990. To do this, emissions would have to decrease by 6 percent every year, said Messner. “Since 2010, the average has not even been two percent.” The 1920s were the crucial decade. “If we miss this decade, we will no longer be able to get our national and global climate goals under control.”
The coalition of SPD, Greens and FDP wants to push the expansion of renewable energies from wind and sun significantly – also under the impression of the crisis in relation to the most important gas supplier Russia. This also included Climate State Secretary Patrick Graichen’s planned immediate climate protection program.
If Germany breaks away from Russian gas supplies, this will have a negative impact on the climate balance in the short term because coal is likely to be used more. “Will there be more emissions in the short term? That’s to be expected, yes, »said Graichen with a view to the electricity market. At the same time, however, the government will “press massively on the tube” in transport, buildings and renewable energies.
According to the Federal Office, the energy sector in particular recorded an increase in emissions of 27 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents. For better comparability, other greenhouse gases are converted into CO2 equivalents, based on their respective contribution to global warming compared to carbon dioxide. The plus in the energy sector is therefore due to increased demand for electricity and lower electricity generation from renewable energies, partly due to little wind and greater use of coal.
The transport and building sectors are above the specified emission levels. There is the “greatest pressure to act,” said Graichen. The building sector missed the target for the second time. Messner called for buildings to be converted to heat pumps. In addition, oil and gas heating should no longer be installed. There is also room for improvement when it comes to saving energy, especially through renovations.
The chairman of the industrial trade union Bauen-Agrar-Umwelt (IG BAU), Robert Feiger, also described this as a social issue: “People on low incomes often live in houses with poor energy efficiency and have to spend a significant proportion of their income on heating.” However, there is often a lack of specialist knowledge when it comes to construction.
In terms of traffic, road freight traffic in particular has an impact, which is again slightly above the level before the start of the corona pandemic. Car traffic, on the other hand, is lower. More electric vehicles are needed, explained Graichen. In addition, local public transport as well as cycling and walking must be strengthened.
The data will now be checked by an expert council within a month. Then there is work for Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) and Building Minister Klara Geywitz (SPD): They have to submit emergency programs within three months with proposals on how their sectors can get on track. Geywitz said: “Whatever is newly built or renovated must be climate-friendly.”
Source: Stern
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