climate change

Umwelt-Indikator

Indicator: Global surface temperature

A graph shows the deviation of the global air temperature between 1850 and 2023 from the average global air temperature from 1850 to 1900, which is taken as the baseline period. 2023 was 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than the baseline average.

2023 was the warmest year worldwide since records began 1850.The last nine years have been the warmest years worldwide since 1850.The Paris Agreement stipulates that the increase in global temperature should be limited to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels, and even to 1.5 °C. Due to historical data availability, the comparative period used by WMO for this purpose is 1850 to 1900. read more

Indicator: Share of renewables in gross electricity consumption

A diagram shows the share of renewable energies in gross final energy consumption. The share increased from 6.3% to 20.4% between 2000 and 2022.

Electricity accounts for around a fifth of final energy consumption. This share is set to increase in the future.The share of renewable energies in gross electricity consumption rose from 6.3% to 46.0 % between 2000 and 2022.The German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) stipulates that the share of renewable energies should increase to at least 80 % by 2030.If Germany achieves its ambitious expans... read more

Indicator: Share of renewables in gross final energy consumption

A diagram shows the share of renewable energies in gross final energy consumption. The share increased from 6.2% to 20.8% between 2004 and 2022.

Gross final energy consumption includes all types of final energy consumption by end consumers, primarily electricity, district heating, fuels and fuels for heat generation.So far, the development has been in line with the previous target of a 30 % share of renewables in 2030.However, as part of the new targets for the EU Renewable Energy Directive, the German target will soon be increased to 40 %... read more

Indicator: Hot days

A graph shows the number of hot days in the areal mean for 1951 to 2023. Although the trend varies greatly, the increase is clearly visible. A trend line has also been plotted on the graph which shows a significant rise.

The highest number of hot days averaged across Germany were recorded in 2003, 2015, 2018 and 2022.Despite considerable fluctuations between individual years, the overall trend is rising significantly.More hot days are expected during summer months in the coming decades due to climate change. read more

Indicator: Greenhouse gas emissions in industry

A graph shows greenhouse gas emissions and gross value-added between 1995 and 2022. Greenhouse gas emissions fell from 238.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents in 1995 to 164 million tonnes in 2022. Gross value-added increased during that time.

Greenhouse gas emissions of the manufacturing industry fell by around 31 % between 1995 and 2022.Over the same period, productivity in the manufacturing industry grew by about 46 % (adjusted for price).Germany is aiming for greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045. read more

Climate | Energy

Fluorinated greenhouse gases and fully halogenated CFCs

blue sky and white clouds

Substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) which deplete the ozone layer have long been subject to an international phase-down on their production and use. In 2016 the international community took steps to phase down another group of substances that are particularly damaging to the climate – hydrofluorocarbons (HFC). read more

Water

Floods - how they form and how we influence them

Flooded elbe river near Dessau

Floods are natural events, they form on a regular basis and are an integral part of the water cycle. The occurrence of floods depends on the strength of precipitation, the characteristics of the catchment area and the morphology of the river itself. Humans can influence and intensify floods, their course and effects. read more

The Umweltbundesamt

For our environment