Topics | Umweltbundesamt

Approximately 6 % of industrial production in Germany are used to protect the environment, e.g. for noise protection or climate mitigation.In 2021, potential environmental protection goods worth nearly 90.6 billion euros were produced in Germany.At 43 billion, climate protection accounts for the largest share. read more

387,700 people worked in the renewable energy sector in 2022.Employment in the renewable energy sector reflects the development of the German market.Strong employment growth until 2011 was followed by a pronounced decline that resulted from the widespread collapse of the domestic photovoltaic industry.Only since 2019, employment has been rising again. read more

According to initial calculations, greenhouse gas emissions in Germany declined by exactly 46.1 % between 1990 and 2023.Germany aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 % by 2020 and by at least 65 % by 2030 compared to 1990 emission levels. Complete greenhouse gas neutrality is to be achieved by 2045.In 2023, Germany was well below the target of minus 40 % set for 2020. The targets for 2030... read more

The averaged index of air pollutants fell by 34.4% between 2005 and 2022.The obligations of the Gothenburg Protocol and the NEC Directive for 2020 were achieved.Safely meeting the commitments of the European NEC) Directive for 2030, is a challenge for the German environmental policy.Ammonia emissions must continue to be significantly reduced to achieve this. read more

The use of energy resources (energy consumption) is associated with many negative environmental impacts.The figure "final energy consumption" excludes the consumption of the energy system itself and reflects the energy consumption of end consumers.The Energy Efficiency Act sets the target that final energy consumption should be 26.5 % lower than in 2008 by 2030 (2045: - 45 %).The German Environmen... read more

Between 2019 and 2022, 52 hectares of land per day were newly dedicated to settlements and transport infrastructure.Originally, the increase was to fall to 30 hectares per day by 2020. According to the goals of the sustainability strategy, the daily increase now should be less than 30 hectares per day by 2030.The Integrated Environmental Programme of the Federal Environment Ministry specifies a re... read more

After a sharp rise between 2000 and 2003, the proportion of PEFC certified areas has stagnated until 2019. In 2023, the share was 10 percentage points higher than in 2019.Overall, the proportion of areas certified under FSC has developed very well since 2000. The proportion is far below that of PECF certified areas, however.The Federal Government wanted the forested area in Germany certified under... read more

The Federal Government wants to lower final energy consumption of freight and passenger transport by 15 to 20 % by 2030 compared to 2005.Freight and passenger transport have become significantly more efficient since the early 1990s, but the increased transport performance has led to an increase or stagnation in final energy consumption.Final energy consumption in freight transport remains at a hig... read more