Industry and transport seen as biggest potential CO2 savers by most Germans – survey

Most people in Germany say that carbon emissions could be saved easiest ("am ehesten") in the industry and transport sectors, a survey published by the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) has found. About two thirds say that emissions could be cut easiest in the production of goods and in the use of cars, aeroplanes or ships, whereas about 45 percent say that energy generation has the best potential for emissions reduction. About one third says buildings and heating have the biggest reduction potential, and only about a quarter say that citizens themselves could reduce emissions best. Between 1990 and 2018, emission in the transport sector have fallen by merely 0.6 percent, whereas the industry sector reduced its greenhouse gas output by 31 over the same period, says BDEW. Energy sector emissions have fallen by 33 percent and those of buildings by 44 percent.

In a new climate action draft law, the German government assigned sector-specific carbon emissions budgets for the period 2020-2030. These define how much CO2 every sector is allowed to emit every year over the coming decade.