German economy ministry plans 2060 target for negative emissions – media report

Germany’s economy and climate ministry is working on a long-term strategy for negative emissions, including a 2060 target to ensure the country absorbs more greenhouse gas emissions than it produces, energy and climate newsletter Tagesspiegel Background reports. This strategy “will create a common understanding of the role of CO2 removal for climate protection in Germany," stated an outline of key points seen by the publication. Based on analyses of the need for and potential of negative emissions, target values for technical carbon sinks for the years 2035, 2040 and 2045 would be worked out and a target for the year 2060 be proposed, the ministry paper said, which is meant to pave the way for a timely expansion of negative emissions. The 2060 target is intended to provide clarity on Germany's long-term contribution through net negative emissions to the Paris climate agreement and compliance with the 1.5 degree Celsius target.

According to the report, the paper said the need for negative emissions is already reflected in national and EU climate legislation, as climate neutrality targets imply that unavoidable emissions must be permanently stored. The ministry said it is pursuing an approach that is considering all available technologies to suck CO2 from the atmosphere, especially Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS) and Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), in addition to natural climate protection measures, such as reforestation and rewetting of peatlands. In a draft programme for the EU elections on 6-9 June 2024, the governing German Green Party said the bloc should set up a joint transport infrastructure and storage facilities for CO2 through carbon capture and storage (CCS) or use (CCU) solutions.