“Transport and cold weather cause emissions to rise”

Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions rose to 906 million tonnes in 2016 (from 902 mln in 2015), due to colder weather and rising emissions in the transport sector, according to preliminary calculations by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA). The data confirms last week’s newspaper reports. Sinking emissions in the energy sector, mostly due to natural gas replacing other fossil fuels, did not balance out rising emissions brought on by an increased use of diesel, for instance in goods transportation, and the need for heating. “The climate emissions from the transport sector are now 2 million tonnes above the value of 1990,” said UBA president Maria Krautzberger.

Read the press release in German here.

For background read the CLEW factsheet Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions and climate targets and the CLEW articles German carbon emissions rise in 2016 despite coal use drop and Germany “stands by existing climate targets” – chancellery chief.