(Montel) Germany’s most-polluting industrial facilities have made little progress in cutting their greenhouse gas emissions over the past decade, which could jeopardise the country’s climate goals, said WWF Germany on Tuesday.
“We have seen a more or less constant emissions trend in the industrial sector since 2013, so no real structural decline,” Vivianne Raddatz, the environmental campaign group’s head of climate and energy policy, said in a webinar.
Total industry emissions reached 183m tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2021, compared with 178m tonnes emitted in 2013.
Production cuts amid soaring energy and input prices led to a 10% decline last year compared with 2021, but this crisis effect would most likely be temporary, according to a report produced by WWF and think tank Oeko-Institut.
Emissions would likely creep up again next year as companies gradually increase production, it said.
WWF identified the “dirty thirty”, Germany’s top 30 polluting plants under the EU ETS, which toether contributed to almost one third of industrial emissions and 8% of the entire country’s emissions.
It included predominantly major steel, iron, and cement manufacturers such as Salzgitter and Thyssenkrupp who would have to “contribute substantially” for Germany to reach its climate goals, said author Hauke Herrmann from Oeko-Institut.
These 30 production plants reduced emissions by 7% last year, less than the 10% annual cut necessary for the sector to hit its 2030 target, according to the report.
Alternatives crucial
It urged the government to invest now in cleaner alternatives like green hydrogen and ammonia, focusing on energy efficiency and building out the necessary renewable capacity.
At the European level, stopping free EU ETS allowances for industry by 2034 was “too late” and an earlier end was necessary to create the right carbon price signals for faster decarbonisation.
Germany aims to reduce its emissions 65% from 1990 levels by 2030 and become climate neutral by 205.
