Even in the phase of economic recovery in 2010 Germany met its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. Greenhouse gas emissions in Germany in 2010 decreased by almost 25% compared to the reference year 1990. This corresponds to a decrease of more than 295 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. "Also in international and European comparison, Germany's climate protection success story is a model for other countries. We demonstrate that economic growth and climate protection can go hand in hand. We intend to progress on this path and achieve a greenhouse gas reduction of 40% by the year 2020. We have covered almost two-thirds of this path already and we have seen that our climate policy also creates strong impetus for economic growth, innovation and employment", outlined Federal Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen.
Detailed data for 2010 can be found in the National Inventory Report 2012, which was compiled by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) and published by the Federal Ministry for the Environment and the Federal Environment Agency. Under the Kyoto Protocol, Germany has agreed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 21% between 2008 and 2012 compared to 1990 levels. Due to economic recovery, emissions increased slightly by 2.7% compared with the crisis year 2009. However, in 2010 emissions were still about 4% below emissions of 2008, the year before the crisis.
With a share of 87.4% the release of carbon dioxide was the main source of greenhouse gas emissions in 2010. They originated primarily from the combustion of fossil energy sources, the consumption of which has slightly increased due to economic recovery. In contrast there has been an above-average reduction in the emission of other greenhouse gases.
The president of the Federal Environment Agency, Jochen Flasbarth, stated: "Germany shows that Kyoto obligations can be implemented. I am convinced that we will make further progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions if we advance energy efficiency and renewable energies".