German carbon emissions hit seven decade low amid economic slowdown

German carbon emissions fell to a seven decade low as Europe’s biggest economy scaled back coal production, according to a released by think tank Agora Energiewende. The report projected emissions in 2023 at 673 million tons, down 73 million metric tons from 2022 and about 46 percent below 1990 levels.

The figure is the lowest output for Germany since the 1950s, according to the think tank. Germany, which has set a goal of net zero emissions by 2045, retired its last three nuclear power plants in 2023 after a broader, years long phaseout of nuclear energy. Meanwhile, coal fired electricity generation in the country fell to a six decade low last year, according to the report, largely because of increased imports and lower demand.

A combination of an economic slowdown and international crises such as the ongoing war in Ukraine also contributed, with energy intensive production falling 11 percent, outpacing the 0.3 percent overall economic shrinkage. Lower electricity production from lignite coal specifically resulted in 29 million fewer metric tons of carbon dioxide last year, compared to 15 million fewer metric tons from hard coal fired power generation.

However, the report also determined the majority of the cuts are not the result of long term renewable energy buildouts that will result in permanent reductions. About 15 percent represents such permanent cuts, compared to about 50 percent that is the result of short term impacts like reduced electricity prices.

Meanwhile, the report found, Germany is likely to miss its European Union climate targets due to nearly flat emissions from the building and transportation sectors last year. The country will have to either pay fines or buy emissions certificates from its fellow EU member states if it fails to meet those goals.

“2023 was a two speed year as far as climate protection in Germany is concerned: the energy sector notched up a climate policy success with its record level of new renewable power, taking us closer to the 2030 target. However, we don’t consider the emissions reductions seen in the industrial sector to be sustainable.

The drop in production due to the energy crisis weakens Germany’s industrial base,” Simon Müller, director of Agora Energiewende Germany, said in a statement. Moving those emissions abroad, Müller added, will not result in any net benefit to the climate..