DEHSt, a branch of the German Environment Agency (UBA), has unveiled that Germany’s EU ETS emissions fell by a record 18% in 2023, their sharpest decline since the start of the EU’s cap-and-trade scheme in 2005. The 1,725 stationary installations in Germany emitted about 289 MtCO2eq in 2023, according to preliminary data.
German energy-related emissions fell by 22% (-53 MtCO2eq) to 188 MtCO2eq, due to a sharp drop in energy demand from businesses and households and the increase in renewable power generation. Consequently, lignite-fired power generation fell by around 25% in 2023 (-36% for hard-coal-fired power generation) and gas-fired power generation by around 2%.
Meanwhile industrial emissions declined by 10% (-11 MtCO2eq) to 101 MtCO2eq. Almost all industrial sectors recorded relatively significant reductions in emissions, with the largest reduction in emissions occuring in non-ferrous metals (-19%), followed by the other mineral processing industry (-18%). The reductions in CO2 emissions from the chemical industry, refineries, industrial and building lime production, cement clinker production and the paper and pulp industry ranged between 9% and 17%. On the contrary, emissions from the iron and steel industry remained relatively stable level (-2%).
Finally, aviation emissions increased by almost 5% to 7.6 MtCO2eq.