Germany records lowest annual CO2 emissions in 70 years

A Germany issued in 2023 the lowest annual amount of CO2 from the last 70 years, with 673 million tons of greenhouse gases. This is a volume that represents 73 million tons less than compared to 2022. 

The information was published, this Thursday (04), by the institution Agora energy transition. According to the study, the the number one reason for the fall in the volume of emissions was the increase in domestic production of renewable energy. 

Last year, for the first time, generation from sources such as solar and wind represented more than 50% of the total. Another factor was the significant reduction in coal-fired electricity production, which has fallen to its lowest levels since the 60s.

A drop in emissions was also impacted by industries energy-intensive and reduced gas production after the increase in fuel prices, caused by the replacement of piped gas imported from Russia with imports of liquefied natural gas. Industrial emissions fell by 20 million tons.

“The consequences of the fossil energy crisis and the economic slowdown are evident in the CO2 emissions from energy-intensive sectors,” Agora Energiewende director Simon Müller said in a statement.

Müller also highlighted that Germany is approaching its goal of producing 80% of its electricity from wind and solar energy by 2030. However, he pointed out that the reduction in emissions from the sector last year does not necessarily reflect a development sustainable. 

“The crisis-related fall in production weakens the German economy. If emissions are subsequently transferred abroad, then nothing has been achieved for the climate,” he said. 

In this sense, to achieve its climate goals, Germany will need a “flood of investments” to modernize industry and reduce the carbon footprint of heating, adds Müller.

all the content of Canal Solar is protected by copyright law, and partial or total reproduction of this site in any medium is expressly prohibited. If you are interested in collaborating or reusing part of our material, please contact us by email: redacao@canalsolar.com.br.