Climate gases considerably lower in Germany for 2014

Greenhouse gases for 2014 in Germany show a considerable decrease for the first time in years. Total emissions for 2014 amounted to 901.9 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, 4.6 percent less than the previous year. However, an increase of emissions was recorded in the transport and agriculture sectors. These figures are based on calculations made by Federal Environment Agency (UBA) which have now been reported to the European Commission.

Greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector have increased by 1.2 percent to over 161 million tonnes of CO₂. Increasing traffic on German roads is responsible for this rise. As a result, since 2005 barely any progress has been made in the transport sector with regard to climate friendliness.

Climate action efforts in the agriculture sector are also stagnating. Greenhouse gas emissions from the agriculture sector in 2014 were 2.2 percent higher than the previous year and totalled 66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.

Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks commented "The transport and agriculture sectors have been overlooked in terms of climate action for far too long. This must be changed. The transport and agriculture sectors need to start making substantial contributions to climate change mitigation. We need to see a trend reversal in emissions across all sectors. The Climate Action Plan 2050, which the Federal Government intends to present next summer, will provide a road map for this."

Maria Krautzberger, president of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA): "Transport policy is in desperate need of an overhaul. We need to improve bus and train services, increase electric mobility for car and bike users and promote walking and cycling more. This is the only way we can successfully achieve our climate targets in the transport sector."

In the agriculture sector, the increase in emissions can be mainly attributed to emissions from liming and the use of urea fertilisers as well as the elimination of the milk quota which has resulted in an increase in dairy farming. Increasing fermentation of energy crops for the generation of energy is also responsible for the rise in agricultural emissions.

A total of 901.9 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent greenhouse gases were emitted from Germany in 2014 - this equates to a reduction of 43.3 million tonnes compared to 2013. The greatest reduction of 20.9 million tonnes was achieved in electricity generation, despite the continued increase in net electricity exports, as has been the case in previous years, and the resulting emissions also being included in the Germany's total emissions. The expansion of renewable energy sources such as wind energy and photovoltaics in particular has led to further reductions in the use of fossil fuels.

Less oil and gas was used for heating houses and apartments, which was primarily due to weather conditions and thus meant savings of 20.8 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.