Germany could miss climate goal in 2026 for first time: Think tank

Missing this year's target would signal that the country is on course to miss its legally binding goal of cutting emissions 65% by 2030.(AFP) — Germany risks missing an annual climate target in 2026 for the first time unless cuts to greenhouse gas emissions accelerate sharply, a think tank warned Friday.The warning from Agora Energiewende will add to criticism that Europe’s biggest economy is backsliding in its fight against climate change under the government of conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz.Carbon dioxide emissions in Europe’s biggest economy fell about 2% in the first half of the year, driven largely by weaker oil demand amid an energy shock caused by the war in the Middle East, the think tank said.But if reductions continue at the same pace, emissions in 2026 would fall to only 635 million metric tons — 13 million below 2025 levels but 10 million above a cap set under Germany’s climate protection law, Agora said.While there may be no immediate consequences for missing this year’s target, it would signal that the country is on course to miss its legally binding goal of cutting emissions 65% by 2030.“To be able to meet the 2030 climate target, annual savings of around 40 million tonnes of CO2 are required,” the think tank said.Germany has a legally binding goal of achieving greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045.The slowing pace of emissions reductions has sparked concerns that Merz’s government is more focused on helping businesses and boosting the stagnant economy than on tackling climate change.Criticism intensified after Germany, like other parts of Europe, endured a summer of drought and heat waves.Merz sought to assuage critics this week, insisting that “long-term lessons” would be drawn from the difficult summer.The Council of Experts on Climate Change, an independent body appointed by the government, also warned in May that Germany was not on track to meet its 2030 climate goal.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads