Germany’s contribution to climate action

Under the Federal Climate Protection Act, Germany is to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality by no later than 2045. 

The interim targets are a reduction in emissions of 65 percent by 2030 and 88 percent by 2040, with 1990 being the point of reference in each case. 

Germany is looking to phase out energy generation from coal-fired power plants, ideally by 2030.  

The stated aim is for renewable energies to become the main source of the energy mix. 

The Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) seeks to increase the share of renewable energies in electricity consumption to at least 80 percent by 2030. This includes the expansion of wind power (115 GW on land) and solar energy (215 GW). Once the phase-out of coal is complete, the electricity supply is to be GHG-neutral. 

In addition, biomass and hydropower are to make a growing contribution to ensuring a sustainable supply of energy.  

The Energy Efficiency Act which came into force in November 2023 aims to achieve a 45-percent reduction in end-user energy consumption by 2030 as compared to 2008. 

The Federal Government is also promoting the climate-friendly use of hydrogen technologies through its National Hydrogen Strategy. The infrastructure is to be expanded by 2028, for instance, with more than 1,800 kilometres of pipeline to be converted or newly installed for hydrogen throughout Germany. 

The energy transition is on the right track 

According to the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), greenhouse gas emissions in Germany fell by more than ten percent in 2023 – the biggest drop in more than 30 years. There was a greater reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the energy and industry sectors than required under the statutory climate targets. 

One key factor here was the expansion of renewable energies, which accounted for 22 percent of total end-user energy consumption in 2023.  

The share of renewable energies in electricity generation was just under 52 percent, 5.6 percentage points above the previous year’s figure of 46.2 per cent. 

In the heating and cooling sector, renewable energies accounted for more than 18 percent of end-user energy consumption. 

The installed capacity of wind turbines totalled 61 GW on land and 8.5 GW at sea, 
with plants generating around 119 TWh on land and around 23.9 TWh at sea – a share of almost 28 percent of total electricity generation.