Challenges of the Climate Crisis
Through an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, it is highly certain that we can expect a global rise in temperatures on ground level. If we follow a scenario which is neither the most pessimistic, nor the most optimistic, global average temperatures are expected to rise about three degrees by the end of the century.
Source: German Climate Computing Centre in Hamburg
By 2045, within less than 25 years, Germany aims to become climate-neutral. On the path to achieve this lie binding emission goals: A reduction in CO2 emissions of 65 percent by 2030, of 77 percent by 2035, of 88 percent by 2040 and of 100 percent by 2045. This is in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement to keep global warming well below 2 degrees and, if possible, to limit it to 1.5 degrees.
A comparison: To date, emissions in Germany have been reduced by only 40 percent since 1990.
De-carbonisation of the economy
There are various studies and scenarios describing how to attain climate neutrality by 2045.
The consistent message is that the amount of energy generated from wind and solar power must increase by 50 % more than previously planned by 2030. Besides an earlier phase-out of coal, the fundamental change in harnessing energy sources represents an important building block: Fossil energy sources will be replaced through electrical ones and the chemical energy source H2.
Overall, this results in an almost complete phase-out of fossil fuels. While today mineral oil, natural gas, and coal cover nearly 80 % of primary energy requirements, the percentage will have to shrink to zero in the long run for Germany to achieve climate neutrality.