Germany: with a mere 1,5% fall of GHG emissions in 2025, a "lost momentum on climate action" (Agora)

"Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions fell only slightly in 2025, declining by 9 Mt, or -1,5% compared with the previous year. For the first time, the sluggish uptake of climate technologies in the buildings and transport sectors is visibly reflected in the overall emission balance". These are the main conclusions of the annual review of Germany’s energy year 2025 published by Agora Energiewende on 07/01/2026.

"Although the emissions budget of 662 Mt CO₂ stipulated in the Climate Protection Act (Klimaschutzgesetz) was met - 640 Mt were emitted in 2025 - savings dropped to less than half compared with 2024. Looking ahead to 2030, the current pace leaves a significant gap", the think tank study said.

Despite the "significant fall" of industrial emissions (-7,2% compared to 2024), resulting mainly of the declining production of energy-intensive products :

• in the building sector, by contrast, "emissions increased by 3.2% due to cooler temperatures;
• while in the transport sector they rose slightly by 1.4% as a result of higher fuel sales".

"As a result, based on currently available data…