Germany is at risk of missing its 2020 goal to cut GHG emissions by 40% below 1990 levels, German media reported this week, citing an annual government progress report on the country’s Energiewende transition to low-carbon energy sources.

The report says that national GHG emissions would need to fall by 3% per year until 2020 for the target to be realised.

In contrast, Germany last year cut by output by 1.7%, bringing levels down to 27% below 1990 and leaving it to find reductions of around 22 million tonnes of CO2e elsewhere.

According to German media outlet Spiegel Online, the report criticises the government’s failure to introduce measures to boost energy efficiency.

Observers have also slammed Germany’s plan to compensate utilities to mothball eight ageing lignite-fired power plants, which the government claims will translate into cuts of more than 12 million tonnes of CO2 by 2020 and help reach its goal.

It has also taken steps to boost combined heat and power sources, which it estimates will lead to reductions of a further 4 million tonnes.

Germany’s environment minister Barbara Hendricks this week said that the country was making “good progress” and held that its 2020 goal would be met.

By Mike Szabo – mike@carbon-pulse.com