According to preliminary data released by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), Germany’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions decreased by 8.7% in 2020 to 739 MtCO2eq, corresponding to a 40.8% fall since 1990. CO2 emissions fell by 9.4% (-67 Mt) in 2020, methane emissions by 2.1% (-1 MtCO2eq), nitrous oxide emissions by 3% (-1 MtCO2eq) and fluorinated greenhouse gases by 9% (-1.3 MtCO2eq).
The largest reduction in GHG emissions occurred in the energy industry : the power sector’ emissions decreased by 14.5% (-38 MtCO2eq) to 221 MtCO2eq , well below the 280 Mt/year emission volume permitted in the Federal Climate Protection Act. Most of the reduction (95%) is due to the drop in emissions from coal- and lignite- fired power plants, despite the commissioning of the Datteln 4 coal-fired power plant. Coal-fired power generation suffered from the competition of gas (low gas prices and higher CO2 prices (around €25/t)) and renewables that covered 45% of the gross electricity consumption in 2020.
The transport sector emissions fell by 11.4% (-19 Mt) to 146 MtCO2eq, below their annual emission volume of 150 MtCO2eq. Most of the decrease is related to lockdown measures aimed at fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and to a lesser extent to new electric car registrations and to a higher proportion of biofuel blending. The crisis also hit domestic air traffic (-60% in emissions, i.e. -1 Mt). Industry emissions declined by 4.6% (-9 MtCO2eq) to 178 MtCO2eq, mainly due to the pandemic crisis that impacted economic sectors differently (-10% for crude steel production, slight reduction in the manufacturing industry, higher process emissons in the mineral industry). Building emissions dipped by 2.8% (-3 Mt) to 120 MtCO2eq, due to lower fuel consumption in commerce, trade and services, while emissions from households slightly increased. The agricultural sector emitted 66 MtCO2eq (-2.2%, -1.5 Mt) and the waste sector 9 MtCO2eq (-3.8%).