Faster expansion of renewables required as German ETS emissions remain unchanged – env agency

Germany’s emissions under the European Emissions Trading System (ETS) remained constant in 2022 compared to the previous year, the annual report from the German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt) shows. Because of Russia’s war in Ukraine and the associated distortions on energy markets, emissions from coal combustion in Germany went up by around three percent, while industry emissions dropped by six percent, reaching their lowest level since 2013. “Before the COVID 19 pandemic, there was a significant decrease in emissions from German EU ETS installations. This trend has paused for the time being,” Federal Environment Agency (UBA) head Dirk Messner said, calling for a move away from fossil energy. “The expansion of renewable energy needs even more speed and we must phase out coal by 2030.” Germany’s sectors covered under the EU ETS – power generation, energy-intensive industries and civil aviation – emitted around 354 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents, compared to 355 million tonnes in 2021, UBA reported.

Emissions levels across the EU ETS also remained almost unchanged, falling by one percent to around 1.32 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalents in 2022. The bloc recently strengthened its carbon market by lowering emission caps and reducing the share of free emission allowances. The ETS plays a key role in its plans to achieve its 2030 emission reduction targets.