Greenhouse gas emissions in Germany fell in 2019, but traffic and heating remain problematic. The corona virus pushes the subject into the background. However, optimists believe that the crisis could also help the climate - not only because less is flown.
Berlin (dpa) - In the midst of the Corona crisis, Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze has good news: Germany made better progress than expected in climate protection last year.
According to initial official estimates, greenhouse gas emissions fell by 6.3 percent in 2019 compared to the previous year - primarily because less electricity was generated from coal and more from gas, wind and sun. The SPD politician Schulze urged more effort, especially in two areas. According to the information, emissions from heating and traffic rose because heating oil was relatively cheap and more and larger cars were on the German roads.
Compared to 1990, Germany has cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 35.7 percent by 2019. This brings the 2020 target of 40 percent "significantly closer" than expected, said Schulze. As a result of the coronavirus epidemic that slows down the economy and air traffic, even less carbon dioxide (CO2) is likely to be released into the atmosphere.
"We will see Corona reduce emissions," said Dirk Messner, President of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA). But these are not structural effects that solve the problem in the long run. On the contrary, the "corona effect" could mask the need to restructure the economy in a climate-friendly manner. Nevertheless, the head of the environmental agency hopes for a long-term effect: "I can imagine that the crisis situation Corona will help us to understand that our societies can be shaken to their foundations." There is growing sensitivity to the need to prepare.
According to the Ministry and the Federal Environment Agency, greenhouse gas emissions fell by 54 million tons to 805 million tons in 2019 - but referred to uncertainties because data was still missing. It was the second largest drop from one year to the other since 1990. Emissions only fell more sharply in 2009, when the economy suffered from the consequences of the financial crisis.
The main reasons for the decline in climate-damaging coal electricity were that the EU-wide CO2 price for the energy industry rose, as well as the relatively low gas price, but also the expansion of wind power and solar systems in Germany. According to UBA, renewable energies had a record share of 42.1 percent of electricity in 2019, and the share of total energy consumption rose to 17.1 percent.
"This expansion must urgently continue," warned Schulze with regard to the coalition dispute over distance rules for wind turbines. Additional measures are needed in traffic and buildings. The fight against the corona virus is "absolute priority", said Schulze, but: "The climate crisis remains important, it is threatening, it does not just go away, not even in corona times." Environmental associations such as Greenpeace and BUND also called for more climate protection ambition.
Specifically, Environment Agency chief Messner recommended, for example, that the renovation and insulation of houses for greater climate protection should be completely tax-deductible and an electric car quota of 30 percent should be introduced by 2025. He also brought up the ongoing controversial speed limit issue on motorways: This would save CO2 "cheaply and immediately". Schulze also wants a speed limit. Regarding the e-car quota, she said that it was a "sensible further measure".
A spokesman for Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU) pointed out that climate protection "especially the transport sector is a very complex issue" and is facing "major challenges". It is important to continuously work on it. A spokesman for construction minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) said that in general one was aware that "huge potential" had to be used in the building sector.
Communication from the Federal Environment Ministry and the Federal Environment Agency
Greenhouse gas emissions graphs
Federal Environment Agency on the calculation method
