Germany’s emission drop 2018 even larger – environment agency corrects figures

Germany reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 4.5 percent between 2017 and 2018, according to corrected estimates by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA). This means the country reduced emissions by 30.8 percent since 1990. The first 2018 figures, published by UBA on Tuesday 2 April, showed a 4.2% reduction in 2018 but contained false information on the agriculture sector. Here, emissions actually decreased by 4.1 percent due to reduced numbers of cattle and pigs as well as less use of mineral fertiliser – and a smaller harvest due to the dry summer lowered emissions further, UBA writes. Germany’s farmers’ association (DBV) noticed the discrepancy and asked the agency to re-calculate.

Please note: We will update all 2018 emission figures in our article “Germany sees largest emissions drop since 2009 recession” as well as in the factsheet Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions and climate targets soon as possible.