CO₂ emissions rise by 0.9 percent in 2016, AGEB estimates

Despite decreasing consumption of coal, Germany’s energy related year-on-year CO₂ emissions rose by 0.9 percent in 2016 due to an increased consumption of natural gas and mineral oil, according to first estimates by energy market research group AG Energiebilanzen (AGEB). Especially the higher consumption of diesel fuel (+4.5 percent) and the increased use of natural gas (+10 percent) for heating and electricity production helped to more than compensate lower emissions from a decrease in coal use and more renewables in Germany’s energy mix. The country’s total energy consumption rose by 1.6 percent to 13,427 petajoules in 2016 compared to 2015. This was due to colder weather, this year’s leap day, continued positive economic development and population growth, writes AGEB in a press release.

Find the press release in German here.

For background read the CLEW article Experts call for CO2 price to retain Energiewende’s credibility.

The Clean Energy Wire will publish an article on the AGEB estimates later today.