Germany’s CO2 emissions predicted to decline remarkably in 2019

Germany is predicted to complete its second year in a row of significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Along with the country’s lessening reliance on coal, Germany is consuming less energy and producing less CO2 than previously predicted. The country is anticipated to get much closer to 2020 climate change goal than had been predicted.

Germany has shown a 2% decrease in primary energy use in 2019, a major contributor to their shrinking CO2 emissions. The energy market research group AG Energiebilanzen (AGEB) has estimated that Germany’s decrease in energy use and coal consumption will result in a “marked” decline of CO2 emissions. In 2019 so far, Germany’s renewable energy use has increased 4% which will be a predicted record high if the success continues for the rest of the year. AGEB is foreseeing that these positive advancements will outweigh the negative contributions from cooler weather and a growing population.

Clean Energy Wire reports, “The group forecast that energy consumption will decrease to 12,810 petajoule (PJ) this year from 13,106 PJ in 2018 due to improved energy efficiency and lower demand in energy-intensive industries during the economic slowdown, outweighing adverse effects such as cooler weather and population growth.”

Germany had significant progress in 2018 as well with CO2 emissions dropping the most the 10 prior years. It is currently looking like the country will have a 5% decrease in CO2 emissions from 2018 to 2019. To further their climate change goals Germany is also looking at ways to phase out coal-fired power production by 2038 at the latest.

What further steps can the German government make to reach their 2020 goals? What other countries have reported dramatic drops in greenhouse gas emissions in 2019?