German emissions at 70-year low as coal use drops

German emissions are at their lowest point in around 70 years as Europe's largest economy managed to reduce its dependence on coal faster than expected, a new study has showed.

Europe's biggest economy emitted 673 million tons of the greenhouse gases last year, 9.8 percent lower than in 2022, according to the energy think tank Agora Energiewende.

The figure was 46 percent lower than in 1990, getting closer to the European Union's 2030 target to have cut emissions by 55 percent compared with the same reference year.

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In fact, Germany's emissions were at their lowest point "since the 1950s," Agora said in a statement, while warning that the government had work to do to further reduce pollution.

The drop was "largely attributable to a strong decrease in coal power generation," Agora said. 

Germany resorted to the fuel in the wake of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, when Moscow cut off gas supplies to the European giant. But since then, Berlin has managed to pare back its use significantly. 

'On a very good path'

Electricity generation from renewable sources was over 50 percent of the total in 2023 for the first time, while coal's share dropped to 26 percent from 34 percent, according to figures published by the federal network agency.

The cut in coal use accounted for a reduction of 46 million tons in CO2 emissions, the think tank estimated.

The renewables record brought Germany closer to its target to produce 80 percent of its electricity from wind and solar by 2030, Agora chief Simon Mueller said.

"When it comes to the generation of electricity, we are on a very good path," Economy Minister Robert Habeck said in a statement.

However, the reduction in emissions also reflected the frailty of German industry, while economic growth has hovered around zero.

Industrial emissions fell by 20 million tons, as production in energy-intensive industries dropped sharply. 

The decrease was, though, "not a sustainable development," Mueller said.

"The crisis-related slump in production weakens the German economy. If emissions are subsequently relocated abroad, then nothing has been achieved for the climate," he added.

In all, the think tank estimated that only 15 percent of the reduction in 2023 constituted "permanent emissions savings."

To hit its climate targets, Germany needs a "barrage of investments" to modernize industry and reduce the carbon footprint from heating, Mueller insisted.

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