One tonne of CO2 emissions causes damages worth 180 euros

The environmental cost of the emission of one tonne of CO₂ is about 180 euros, according to new calculations published by Germany’s Federal Environment Agency (UBA). Economic losses include crop losses, damages to buildings and infrastructure, and damages to human health, among others. “When annualised for Germany's greenhouse gas emissions in 2016, total costs amount to about 164 billion euros,” according to the UBA. The new report shows a significant increase over previous calculations – in 2014, the UBA said the damages amounted to 80 euros per tonne. 
One kilowatt hour (kWh) of lignite-produced electricity causes an average 20.81 cents of environmental damage, according to the calculations. “Hence the total amount of lignite-produced electricity in Germany in 2016 generated 31.2 billion euros worth of environmental damage. In comparison, the environmental cost of one kWh of electricity produced with wind energy is only 0.28 eurocents,” the UBA said.

Read the press release in English here.