This is mainly due to the early and intensive use of coal to generate electricity and smelt ores. All previous emissions from German soil contribute to global CO₂-Increase of 137 ppm with 5 to 6 ppm at. It is a high value. And there is still a lot of added carbon dioxide. By the projected ground zero in 2045, the federal government’s most optimistic plan still projects emissions of 7.8 billion tonnes. Based on previous ratios, this is enough for an additional 0.5 ppm increase globally.

“But China and India…”

It is true that Germany is currently one of the top ten emitters of CO₂The polluter is far behind countries like China, India and the United States. China is responsible for about 30 percent of emissions, the United States 12 percent, India seven percent and Russia almost five percent. In India and China in particular, emissions have increased dramatically since 1990, and in China they have more than quadrupled over this period. Protection of the global climate is not possible without these countries reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.

However, no one has ever claimed that Germany alone can save the global climate and achieve the goal set out in the Paris climate agreement of keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees if possible. , but in any case below 2 degrees Celsius compared to the pre-industrial level. period. Germany has only very limited possibilities to compel China or the United States to act on climate policy. But the reverse is also true: each country is responsible for its own policy.

It’s also important to put the numbers into perspective. China and India each have 1.4 billion people, while Germany has only 84 million. When opponents of climate protection use the 2 percent argument here, Indians and Chinese can point out that 35 percent of the total population lives together in their two countries, compared to just 1 percent in Germany. India can also argue that its per capita emissions of 2.5 tonnes are three and a half times lower than Germany’s. At 57 billion tonnes, India’s total historical emissions from burning oil, coal and natural gas are only 61 percent of the previous German total. With its per capita emissions of 9.9 tons, China can say that the German value has only fallen below this mark since 2019.

And it should not be forgotten: the German economy imports large quantities of goods from China and other countries, the production of which releases carbon dioxide there. Germany buys more goods from China than vice versa. If only industrial goods are considered, Germany exports more CO, according to analyzes by the Federal Statistical Office₂-The shows he imported. But if agricultural imports are added, for example soybeans from South America, the total German CO increases₂-Emission by a third, according to the calculations of sustainability researcher Marco Schmidt from the University of Pforzheim. At a table in a tavern in São Paulo, one could rightly say that this part of Brazilian broadcasts should be attributed to Germany.

Many countries and regions could use the 2 percent argument

Many countries, states and regions around the world are also only responsible for a few percent of global CO.₂-Emissions. Of all countries, Germany compares best to Japan. The island nation is one of the leading industrial nations and, with a slightly larger population, it emits around 1.1 billion tonnes of CO.₂ per year free. Opponents of climate protection measures in Japan might argue a little differently: “But Japan is only responsible for three percent of global emissions!” »