German GHG emissions decreased by 6.3% in 2019

According to estimates released by the German Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA), greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions declined by 6.3% (-54 MtCO₂eq) in 2019 to 805 MtCO₂eq, the largest annual decrease since 1990. GHG emissions are now 35.7% lower than in 1990; Germany aims to reduce them by at least 55% by 2030, according to the Climate Protection Act.

Most of the reductions were achieved in the energy sector (-51 MtCO₂eq, i.e. -16.7%), thanks to the shutdown of coal-fired power units (3.5 GW shut down or transferred to the grid reserve) and the increased use of gas-fired power plants, in a context of low global gas prices. The reform of the European emissions trading scheme (ETS) also contributed to cut GHG emissions, as the average price of a ton of CO₂ nearly doubled in 2019 to €24.65/tCO₂. In addition, Germany benefited from a particularly windy and sunny weather that boosted renewable power generation. GHG emissions from the industrial sector are also estimated to have declined by 3.7% (-7 MtCO₂eq), thanks to a lower power generation in industrial power plants and to a decline in fuel use. GHG process emissions also decreased, especially in the steel industry, and in the minerals and chemical industries at a lesser extent.

Meanwhile, GHG emissions increased in the building sector (+4.4%, +5 MtCO₂eq) due to a significant decrease in the heating oil price and to weather conditions, and in transports (+0.7%, +1.2 MtCO₂eq) owing to the increase in the vehicle fleet. They declined in the agriculture sector (-2.3%, -1.6 MtCO₂eq), as cattle populations and mineral fertiliser sales contracted in 2019, as well as in the waste sector (-0.5 MtCO₂eq, -4.7%) thanks to a 5.9% fall in landfill emissions.

Most of the decrease in GHG emissions came from CO₂ emissions, which fell by 6.6% (-50 MtCO₂eq). Methane emissions decreased by 2.5 MtCO₂eq (-4.7%), NOx emissions by 1.3 MtCO₂eq (-3.5%) and F-gases emissions by almost 0.3 MtCO₂eq.