Adjusted Upwards…German CO2 Equivalent Emissions Rise (Again) In 2016…No Reduction Since 2009!

Germany’s CO2 equivalent emissions revised upward for 2016. The country has barely seen any reduction in greenhouse gas emissions so far this decade but has seen its power prices skyrocket and power grid become far more unstable.

According to Germany’s Ministry of Environment here (UBA), emissions of “climate gases” rose again in 2016, from 906 million tonnes CO2 equivalent in 2015 to 909.4 million tonnes in 2016.

Source: UBA.

That’s the second annual rise in a row and means the country has not reduced its emissions in 9 years.

Preliminary estimates had put the 2016 emissions at 906 million tonnes CO2 equivalent, but the UBA has since revised the figure upwards to 909.4 million tonnes. Despite tens of billions of euros earmarked for green energies over the past years, the country’s CO2 greenhouse gas emissions refuse to fall.

Emissions from the transportation sector rose to 166.8 million, which means they even surpass the 1990 level!

According to the climate protection plan proposed by the German government, emissions from the transportation sector are supposed to fall by 70 million tonnes by 2030. UBA President Maria Krautzberger is thus calling for rules requiring all new cars registered beginning in 2025 to not exceed 75 grams/CO2 per kilometer.

Germany’s power sector, however, did see a 4.6 million tonne drop in CO2 emissions, posting 332.1 million tonnes in 2016. Here Krautzberger is now calling for a shutdown of the older coal power plants.

So far Germany has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by only 27.3% compared to the 1990 levels (most of the reduction resulting from shutting down horrendously inefficient former communist East German industries). Germany’s target for 2020 is 40%, a level that the government has already abandoned.

The outlook for 2017 shows little change, and could even see a another slight uptick.

Since Germany began its rush into green energies, consumers have seen their power prices double and become among the most expensive in the world. And because the country is relying heavily on wind and solar power, Germany’s power grid has become unstable and prone to local blackouts.

The high energy prices and unstable power grids have made Germany less attractive for industry, and is thus making Donald Trump’s bid to persuade industries to set up shop in the USA far easier – thanks to the USA’s deregulation, low taxes and low-cost electricity and energy.

via NoTricksZone

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January 27, 2018 at 10:41AM