Preliminary calculations by Agora Energiewende show that emissions in Europe’s biggest economy fell last year to 673 million tonnes, the lowest in 70 years. This means that emissions are about 10% below 2022 levels and 46% below the reference year 1990. Furthermore, the level for 2023 is about 49 million less than the annual target set in the Climate Protection Act.

The decline was mainly driven by less coal generation and reduced output from energy-intensive industries because of the weak economic situation. Coal’s share in the country’s power mix dropped from 34% to 26% while production in the energy-intensive sectors fell by 11%.

Total emissions from the energy sector including heating, amounted to 210 million tonnes of CO2, representing an 18% decline compared to the level recorded in 2022. Meanwhile, industry emissions dropped by 12% to 144 million tonnes.

 

However, according to the report, “most of the emissions cuts in 2023 are not sustainable from an industrial or climate policy perspective”. Based on Agora’s calculation, “only about 15 percent of the CO₂ saved constitutes permanent emissions reductions” while half of the emissions cuts come from short-term factors such as the fragility of the German economy.

 

According to Clara Thomson from Greenpeace Germany, quoted by Clean Energy Wire, “the crisis in parts of the economy must not be confused with successful climate policy,” arguing that “only a fraction of the significant reduction in emissions was achieved by reducing energy consumption and expanding renewables.”