The key facts, figures, and policies behind Germany’s climate performance in 2009.
 | Germany's Emission TrendsClick on the image to see Germany's emission trends since 1990 (Graphic: WWF/Allianz) |
Improvements since 1990
G8 Ranking: 2
-Past emission trend from 1990 to 2007: -21.3%
-Current (2007) distance to the Kyoto target: -0.6%-points
-Increase of the share of renewable energy sources: +4.3%-points
Current Status
G8 Ranking: 5
-Emissions per capita: 12 tons CO2
-Emissions per GDP: 384 tons CO2 /M$
-CO2 per kWh electricity: 497 grams CO2
-Emissions in transport per capita: 1.9 tons CO2
Policies for the future
G8 Ranking: 1
- Envisages 40 percent emission reductions by 2020 compared to 1990
- Loans for energy efficiency and CO2 reduction measures in the domestic sector extended as an economic recovery measure
- Aims for an 11 percent reduction in electricity consumption by 2020, but a planned energy efficiency law has been postponed
- Half of industry emissions covered by EU Emission Trading Scheme, but limited auctioning of permits planned
- No targets for the power sector: the majority of capacity to be built is coal or lignite
 | Animation: G8 Climate Scorecards 2009Click on the image to see the climate performance of the G8 countries (Animation: Allianz) |
Germany leads the WWF/Allianz Climate Scorecards rankings thanks to emissions declining a fifth since 1990—partly due to economic collapse in Eastern Germany—a strong record of introducing renewable energy, and top ranking for future policies. Feed-in tariffs for electricity from renewable sources enabled Germany to increase renewable capacity to 14 percent of all electricity.
Germany has an ambitious 40 percent reduction target for GHG emissions by 2020. However, it has not taken stringent action against planned new coal power stations or on transport, often protecting the automotive and other energy-intensive industries.
Germany has provided strong leadership in international climate change negotiations and has used revenues from the EU Emissions Trading Scheme to help developing countries reduce their emissions. It has been less active recently, however, and has advocated extensive exemptions from auctioning of CO2 certificates in the EU emission trading system.
Germany has agreed to European Union targets for 2020: reduce GHG emissions 20 percent below 1990 levels and 30 percent if other countries commit to reductions; reduce energy consumption by 20 percent; and increase the share of renewable energy in Germany’s energy mix to 18 percent. Germany plans to phase out nuclear power.
editor: James Tulloch
publishing date: July 1, 2009
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