Germany sees 10% drop in emissions, raising 2030 climate goal hopes

By | 03/15/2024 01:24 PM EDT

The country’s environmental protection agency pointed to “very successful expansion of renewable energies” but cautioned that progress in cutting emissions is not satisfactory across the board.

In this aerial view water vapour and exhaust rise from the steel mill of Salzgitter AG, one Europe's largest steel producers, on November 22, 2023 in Salzgitter, Germany.

Water vapor and exhaust rise from the steel mill of Salzgitter, one Europe's largest steel producers, on Nov. 22, 2023, in Salzgitter, Germany. The mill was Germany's fourth-biggest emitter of CO2 in 2022. The company is investing in CO2-free steel production. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

BERLIN — Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions dropped by one-tenth last year as renewable energy grew in importance, the use of coal and gas diminished and economic pressures weighed on businesses and consumers, official data showed Friday.

Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, who is also the economy and climate minister, said Europe’s biggest economy is on course to meet its target for 2030 of cutting emissions by 65 percent, compared with 1990.

Germany aims to cut its emissions to net zero by 2045 and is working to ramp up the use of solar and wind power and other renewable sources.

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The country’s environmental protection agency said that Germany emitted about 673 million tons of greenhouse gases in 2023, a decline of 76 million tons or 10.1 percent, compared with the previous year. It was the strongest decline since 1990.

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