The latest study on carbon dioxide emissions in Germany reveals a significant milestone for Europe's largest economy. According to findings released on Thursday, carbon dioxide emissions in Germany dropped to their lowest level in seven decades. This unexpected decline is attributed to a sharp reduction in coal usage in 2023 and economic pressures that led to decreased production in energy-intensive industries.

Germany has set ambitious environmental goals, with a commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2045. To realize this target, the country has been actively working to increase the share of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, in its energy mix.

Preliminary calculations from the Agora Energiewende think tank indicate that Germany emitted 673 million metric tons of CO2 in the previous year. This marks a significant reduction of 73 million metric tons compared to 2022 and represents the lowest level of carbon emissions since the 1950s. Notably, the figure is 46% below the country's emissions in 1990, showcasing a long-term positive trend in Germany's efforts to mitigate climate change.



The unexpected decline in coal usage and the overall reduction in carbon emissions highlight the effectiveness of Germany's transition towards cleaner energy sources. The country's commitment to sustainability and its investment in renewable technologies are evidently making a substantial impact on its carbon footprint, contributing to global efforts to combat climate change. As Germany continues to prioritize renewable energy and implements strategies to meet its ambitious targets, it sets an encouraging example for other nations striving to address the challenges of environmental sustainability.
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Any reduction of emissions is good, but let's not paint a too green of a picture here. The article cited in this post mentions this: [...] only about 15% of last year’s emissions savings constitute “permanent emissions reductions resulting from additional renewable energy capacity, efficiency gains and the switch to fuels that produce less CO2 or other climate friendly alternatives.” It said that “most of the emissions cuts in 2023 are not sustainable from an industrial or climate policy perspective.”
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@claes_lennman I thought it was wierd that from one year to another the country could achieve this astonishing reduction. Given the war they have used less fossil fuels lowering heating temperatures and many industries had to stop production. This reduction is not sustainable. If the reduction of CO2 emissions was in their core Germany wouldn´t have shut down their nuclear plants, al least for the next 5 to 10 years. Never there is a great effort to install new renewables and use heat pumps which is remarkable.
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Germany's remarkable achievement of hitting its lowest CO2 emissions in seven decades is indeed cause for celebration!
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@george_kariuki I hope that this will pose a challenge to other countries to lower their emissions
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Dear Edwin wangombe Your climate love has received over 50 agrees! We have reached out to Germany by email and requested a response. I will keep you updated on any progress! To reach more people and increase the chance of a response, click the Share button above to share the review on your social accounts. For every new member that joins We Don't Have Time from your network, we will plant a tree and attribute it to you! /Adam, We Don't Have Time
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This is a good sign
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@johnte_ndeto It shows how committed Germany is to making a change and its impressive
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Encouraging !
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@Johannes_Luiga very encouraging and if this commitment by Germany spills to other countries, the world will be a better place
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great achievement,their commitment will lead to zero carbon emissions in future
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That's the way to go, reducing carbon emissions is the mission here
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@elizbeth_gathigia I agree.. the more other countries can join in the mission
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This is a major milestone for Germany and a win for the planet. The commitment from German to reduce CO2 is commendable.
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@joseph_githinji I wish this could be the new trend for all countries
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This is a great achievement in reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change. It's encouraging to see efforts leading to a decrease in CO2 emissions in Germany. Kudos Germany.
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@walter_lungayi The dedication displayed by Germany is impressive
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let's goooooo
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Way to go Deutsch Republik. Let's get those numbers even lower
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@munene_mugambi i believe if they keep up with this trend by the end of this year they will record lower numbers
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This is a commendable achievement đź‘Ź.
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@princess_nel_268 it shows the milestone a country can achieve once they decide to ditch coal and other fossil fuels