Greenhouse gas emissions up by 1.6 percent in year 2012
BMU, Germany: Emissions is still 192 million tonnes under Kyoto targets for years 2008 to 2012. According to the first preliminary calculations and estimations of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), greenhouse gas emissions in Germany rose by 1.6 percent in 2012. Nevertheless; Germany clearly exceeded its reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol. When compared with 1990 greenhouse gas emissions in 2012 have dropped by 25.5 percent; a 21 percent decrease was needed on average for the years 2008 to 2012. In total roughly 931 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent were released, 14 million tonnes more than the previous year. CO2 emissions went up most with an increase of 2.0 percent. The reason for this increase is that more hard coal and lignite was burned for generating electricity and more gas was used to heat houses and apartments due to cold weather. However, the expansion of renewable energies curbed the rise in emissions. (Source: http://www.bmu.de/en/bmu/press-and-speeches/current-press-releases/pm/artikel/treibhausgasausstoss-im-jahr-2012-um-16-prozent-gestiegen/?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=82)