Germany risks missing an annual climate target in 2026 for the first time unless cuts to greenhouse gas emissions sharply accelerate, a think tank warned Friday.
The warning from Agora Energiewende will add to criticism that Europe's biggest economy is backsliding on fighting the climate crisis under conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Europe's biggest economy fell around two percent in the first half of the year, driven largely by weaker oil demand amid the Middle East war energy shock, the think tank said.
But if reductions continue at the same pace, emissions in 2026 would fall only to 635 million tonnes -- 13 million below 2025 levels but 10 million above a cap set out in Germany's climate protection act, Agora said.
While there may be no immediate consequences for missing this year's target, it signals that the country is on course to miss a legally binding 2030 target of cutting emissions 65 percent by 2030.
