Germany's Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A 2024 Milestone Towards Climate Goals

Germany's Federal Environment Agency reported a 3.4% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2024, moving towards its 2030 climate goals. Although the overall reduction is promising, Germany risks missing EU targets due to slow progress in transport and building sectors.

Germany's Federal Environment Agency announced on Friday that the country's greenhouse gas emissions decreased by approximately 3.4% in 2024 compared to the previous year. This decline indicates that Germany, Europe's largest economy, is on track to achieving its 2030 climate ambitions.

The agency reported that carbon dioxide emissions stood at 649 million tons, surpassing earlier estimates and well below the legal 2024 target. Climate Action and Economy Minister, Robert Habeck, expressed confidence in reaching national climate targets by 2030.

Despite progress in reducing emissions, particularly due to an increase in renewable energy, Germany faces challenges under the EU's Effort Sharing Regulation mainly because of insufficient advancements in the transport and building sectors, which have not met their legal reduction targets.

(With inputs from agencies.)