Environmental Sustainability
#5Key Findings
Germany receives high comparative rankings (rank 5) with regard to its environmental sustainability.
Climate policy is built around numerous plans and programs. A 2021 court ruling mandated stronger goals. The target for net climate neutrality was shifted forward to 2045, and the new greenhouse gas emissions-reduction targets are 65% by 2030 and 88% by 2040, compared to 1990 levels. The building and transport sectors still lag behind their interim targets.
The country lacks a comprehensive pollution prevention strategy but has separate plans for air, water and soil pollution, with some linked to European initiatives. A National Water Strategy addresses responsible use and water pollution, aiming to reach zero pollutants by 2050. A new biodiversity action plan is ongoing, with monitoring systems being developed.
The country is a very strong participant in global and regional multilateral environmental agreements. It leads the EU in terms of contributions to climate finance initiatives.
Climate policy is built around numerous plans and programs. A 2021 court ruling mandated stronger goals. The target for net climate neutrality was shifted forward to 2045, and the new greenhouse gas emissions-reduction targets are 65% by 2030 and 88% by 2040, compared to 1990 levels. The building and transport sectors still lag behind their interim targets.
The country lacks a comprehensive pollution prevention strategy but has separate plans for air, water and soil pollution, with some linked to European initiatives. A National Water Strategy addresses responsible use and water pollution, aiming to reach zero pollutants by 2050. A new biodiversity action plan is ongoing, with monitoring systems being developed.
The country is a very strong participant in global and regional multilateral environmental agreements. It leads the EU in terms of contributions to climate finance initiatives.
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How committed is the government to the goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050?
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9
The government is clearly committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
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The government is largely committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
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The government is only somewhat committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
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1
The government is not at all committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
Germany’s climate protection policy consists of three main pillars: the Federal Climate Change Act (Klimaschutzgesetz), the Climate Action Plan 2050 (Klimaschutzplan 2050), and climate protection programs.
The Federal Climate Change Act forms the legal framework for climate policy. Enacted in 2019, the act makes climate targets legally binding, defining both overall climate action goals and annual emission limits for individual sectors. It outlines procedures for monitoring and compliance and includes mechanisms for readjustment. Following a 2021 ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court, the targets were intensified: the act now aims for net climate neutrality by 2045 and a reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) by at least 65% by 2030 and 88% by 2040, compared to 1990 levels. The annual emission volumes for each sector were also adjusted (BMWK, 2023a).
The Climate Action Plan 2050, introduced in 2016, is Germany’s long-term climate protection strategy following the adoption of the Paris Agreement. Although initially based on achieving climate neutrality by 2050, it outlines the federal government’s climate policy goals and principles, encompassing environmental, economic, and social dimensions. The plan addresses all relevant sectors: energy, building and transportation, industry, and agriculture and forestry.
Each sector has a specific action plan within the Climate Action Plan, detailing both general targets and sector-specific measures. For instance, the forestry sector focuses on GHG sequestration through land use, while the energy sector targets the expansion of renewable energy. The building sector aims to promote sustainable construction through increased use of sustainable materials. These action plans include concrete milestones to be achieved by 2030, serving as indicators to measure the overall success of the measures (BMUB, 2016).
The third component, climate protection programs, establish concrete measures to achieve climate targets. The latest program, the Climate Protection Program 2023, was adopted by the cabinet in October 2023. Developed to address a gap of 200 million tons of CO2 equivalents between 2022 and 2030, the program aims to reduce this gap by 80% through comprehensive policies.
The program includes specific measures for the energy, building, industry, transportation, and agriculture sectors. For example, the building sector plans to introduce a heat planning act to nationalize heat planning and decarbonize heating networks. The agricultural sector aims to expand organic farming and develop climate- and animal-friendly livestock practices. For transportation, measures include strengthening and digitalizing Deutsche Bahn’s network and expanding railway capacity.
It is anticipated that the current climate protection gap can be closed by 2030 through measures in the electricity and agricultural sectors and significantly reduced in the building sector. However, the program indicates that further action is needed in the transportation sector despite the proposed measures (BMWK, 2023b).
Compliance with the Federal Climate Change Act is not reviewed by the courts but is monitored by the Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt), which annually calculates emission data for each sector and publishes it in March of the following year. An independent council of experts reviews this data, monitors progress, and reports its evaluation to the Bundestag (Die Bundesregierung, 2019).
The Climate Change Performance Index ranks Germany 14th out of 63 countries and the EU for 2024, with a score of 65.8, indicating high performance. While Germany has adopted multiple policies to accelerate the expansion of renewable energy, the building and transport sectors are still falling short of their targets. Nevertheless, Germany’s performance has improved compared to the previous year (CCPI, 2023a; CCPI, 2023b).
Various strategies contribute to achieving net-zero emissions. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) introduced the System Development Strategy to establish a climate-neutral energy system by 2045. This initiative includes a cross-sectoral mission statement and a strategy for transforming the energy system (BMWK, 2023b). Additionally, the Federal Action Plan on Nature-based Solutions for Climate and Biodiversity promotes soil preservation to protect its significant role in GHG sequestration (BMUV, 2023).
The federal administration plans to be climate neutral by 2030, making environmentally friendly public procurement crucial. Article 13, Paragraph 2, of the Federal Climate Change Act states that the federal government must align investment planning, selection, and implementation with the climate targets set by the act.
It is unclear whether the central government can intervene at lower political levels if effective implementation is endangered or if ministries monitor implementation. However, the National Climate Initiative (NKI) supports climate action in companies and municipalities through diverse projects and network initiatives. According to the NKI, over 1,150 companies and municipalities are involved in these networks, and around 42 projects were carried out from 2016 to 2020 (NKI, 2021).
Citations:
BMUB. 2016. “Klimaschutzplan 2050, Klimaschutzpolitische Grundsätze und Ziele der Bundesregierung.” https://www.bmwk.de/Redaktion/DE/Publikationen/Industrie/klimaschutzplan-2050.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=4
BMUV. 2023. “Federal Action Plan on Nature-based Solutions for Climate and Biodiversity.” https://www.bmuv.de/fileadmin/Daten_BMU/Pools/Broschueren/ank_publikation_en_bf.pdf
BMWK. 2023. “Nationale Klimaschutzpolitik.” https://www.bmwk.de/Redaktion/DE/Dossier/nationale-klimaschutzpolitik.html
BMWK. 2023b. Die Systementwicklungsstrategie: Ein Rahmen für die Transformation zum klimaneutralen Energiesystem. https://www.bmwk.de/Redaktion/DE/Dossier/ses.html
BMWK. 2023. “Das Klimaschutz-Programm 2023.” https://www.bmwk.de/Redaktion/DE/Downloads/U/ueberblickspapier-klimaschutzprogramm.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=2
CCPI. 2023. “CCPI 2024: Ranking and Results.” https://ccpi.org/
CCPI. 2023b. “Germany.” https://ccpi.org/country/deu/
Die Bundesregierung. 2019. “CO2-Ausstoß verbindlich senken.” https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/schwerpunkte/klimaschutz/kimaschutzgesetz-beschlossen-1679886
NKI. 2021. “The National Climate Initiative.” https://www.klimaschutz.de/sites/default/files/NKI_Praesentation_Feb_2021_EN.pdf
The Federal Climate Change Act forms the legal framework for climate policy. Enacted in 2019, the act makes climate targets legally binding, defining both overall climate action goals and annual emission limits for individual sectors. It outlines procedures for monitoring and compliance and includes mechanisms for readjustment. Following a 2021 ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court, the targets were intensified: the act now aims for net climate neutrality by 2045 and a reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) by at least 65% by 2030 and 88% by 2040, compared to 1990 levels. The annual emission volumes for each sector were also adjusted (BMWK, 2023a).
The Climate Action Plan 2050, introduced in 2016, is Germany’s long-term climate protection strategy following the adoption of the Paris Agreement. Although initially based on achieving climate neutrality by 2050, it outlines the federal government’s climate policy goals and principles, encompassing environmental, economic, and social dimensions. The plan addresses all relevant sectors: energy, building and transportation, industry, and agriculture and forestry.
Each sector has a specific action plan within the Climate Action Plan, detailing both general targets and sector-specific measures. For instance, the forestry sector focuses on GHG sequestration through land use, while the energy sector targets the expansion of renewable energy. The building sector aims to promote sustainable construction through increased use of sustainable materials. These action plans include concrete milestones to be achieved by 2030, serving as indicators to measure the overall success of the measures (BMUB, 2016).
The third component, climate protection programs, establish concrete measures to achieve climate targets. The latest program, the Climate Protection Program 2023, was adopted by the cabinet in October 2023. Developed to address a gap of 200 million tons of CO2 equivalents between 2022 and 2030, the program aims to reduce this gap by 80% through comprehensive policies.
The program includes specific measures for the energy, building, industry, transportation, and agriculture sectors. For example, the building sector plans to introduce a heat planning act to nationalize heat planning and decarbonize heating networks. The agricultural sector aims to expand organic farming and develop climate- and animal-friendly livestock practices. For transportation, measures include strengthening and digitalizing Deutsche Bahn’s network and expanding railway capacity.
It is anticipated that the current climate protection gap can be closed by 2030 through measures in the electricity and agricultural sectors and significantly reduced in the building sector. However, the program indicates that further action is needed in the transportation sector despite the proposed measures (BMWK, 2023b).
Compliance with the Federal Climate Change Act is not reviewed by the courts but is monitored by the Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt), which annually calculates emission data for each sector and publishes it in March of the following year. An independent council of experts reviews this data, monitors progress, and reports its evaluation to the Bundestag (Die Bundesregierung, 2019).
The Climate Change Performance Index ranks Germany 14th out of 63 countries and the EU for 2024, with a score of 65.8, indicating high performance. While Germany has adopted multiple policies to accelerate the expansion of renewable energy, the building and transport sectors are still falling short of their targets. Nevertheless, Germany’s performance has improved compared to the previous year (CCPI, 2023a; CCPI, 2023b).
Various strategies contribute to achieving net-zero emissions. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) introduced the System Development Strategy to establish a climate-neutral energy system by 2045. This initiative includes a cross-sectoral mission statement and a strategy for transforming the energy system (BMWK, 2023b). Additionally, the Federal Action Plan on Nature-based Solutions for Climate and Biodiversity promotes soil preservation to protect its significant role in GHG sequestration (BMUV, 2023).
The federal administration plans to be climate neutral by 2030, making environmentally friendly public procurement crucial. Article 13, Paragraph 2, of the Federal Climate Change Act states that the federal government must align investment planning, selection, and implementation with the climate targets set by the act.
It is unclear whether the central government can intervene at lower political levels if effective implementation is endangered or if ministries monitor implementation. However, the National Climate Initiative (NKI) supports climate action in companies and municipalities through diverse projects and network initiatives. According to the NKI, over 1,150 companies and municipalities are involved in these networks, and around 42 projects were carried out from 2016 to 2020 (NKI, 2021).
Citations:
BMUB. 2016. “Klimaschutzplan 2050, Klimaschutzpolitische Grundsätze und Ziele der Bundesregierung.” https://www.bmwk.de/Redaktion/DE/Publikationen/Industrie/klimaschutzplan-2050.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=4
BMUV. 2023. “Federal Action Plan on Nature-based Solutions for Climate and Biodiversity.” https://www.bmuv.de/fileadmin/Daten_BMU/Pools/Broschueren/ank_publikation_en_bf.pdf
BMWK. 2023. “Nationale Klimaschutzpolitik.” https://www.bmwk.de/Redaktion/DE/Dossier/nationale-klimaschutzpolitik.html
BMWK. 2023b. Die Systementwicklungsstrategie: Ein Rahmen für die Transformation zum klimaneutralen Energiesystem. https://www.bmwk.de/Redaktion/DE/Dossier/ses.html
BMWK. 2023. “Das Klimaschutz-Programm 2023.” https://www.bmwk.de/Redaktion/DE/Downloads/U/ueberblickspapier-klimaschutzprogramm.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=2
CCPI. 2023. “CCPI 2024: Ranking and Results.” https://ccpi.org/
CCPI. 2023b. “Germany.” https://ccpi.org/country/deu/
Die Bundesregierung. 2019. “CO2-Ausstoß verbindlich senken.” https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/schwerpunkte/klimaschutz/kimaschutzgesetz-beschlossen-1679886
NKI. 2021. “The National Climate Initiative.” https://www.klimaschutz.de/sites/default/files/NKI_Praesentation_Feb_2021_EN.pdf
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How committed is the government to protecting the public from environmental health risks?
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The government is clearly committed to the goal of protecting environmental health.
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The government is largely committed to the goal of protecting environmental health.
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The government is only somewhat committed to the goal of protecting environmental health.
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1
The government is not at all committed to the goal of protecting environmental health.
Germany does not have a comprehensive strategy to prevent environmental pollution. However, separate strategies, programs, or plans have been developed for air, water, and soil pollution, some of which operate at the European level. While the strategies themselves are not legally binding, the actions proposed to achieve their goals often include the introduction of new legislation or the adaptation of existing laws, which are then binding.
Regarding air pollution, Germany is required to submit a National Air Pollution Control Program (NAPCP) to the European Commission every four years as part of the EU’s National Emissions Reduction Commitments (NEC) directive. Based on the percentage emissions reduction commitments defined by the NEC directive for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides (NO2), ammonia, non-methane volatile organic compounds, and fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5), the NAPCP must include a With Measures Scenario (WM) and a NEC Compliance Scenario (WAM).
In this context, a scenario refers to the compilation of strategies and measures and their effect on pollutants. Specifically, the WM is meant to include measures that have already been adopted, while the WAM contains strategies and measures aimed at meeting the emissions reduction commitments in the event of noncompliance.
As the NEC directive prescribes specific percentages by which pollutants must be reduced, the NAPCP aims to achieve clearly defined goals. By requiring the program to be published every four years, the directive also provides a mechanism for monitoring progress. The key indicators for measuring outcomes are whether the goals specified in the directive are met.
Since the goals are based on an EU directive, the measures must be codified into national law in order to be binding. Germany passed its first NAPCP in 2019 and, as of June 2023, a draft for the second program exists. The 2019 program outlines how effectively the existing measures contribute to meeting the reduction commitments for each pollutant and what additional measures should be implemented to address any shortfall (BMUV, 2019). Overall, Germany’s NAPCP considers 23 policies and measures for adoption and has adopted 21. For example, the reduction of coal-fired power generation is listed as an effective measure for sulfur dioxide and PM2.5 reduction (Kaar and Menadue, 2022).
The increasing pressure from droughts and their impact on forests, agriculture, and biodiversity prompted the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection (BMUV) to present the National Water Strategy in 2023. Although this strategy focuses on ensuring the responsible use of available water resources, it also addresses health risks associated with water pollution. In support of the EU’s zero pollution plan, the BMUV’s strategy aims to achieve zero pollutants by 2050.
The strategy includes a program of water measures to operationalize the National Water Strategy, making it comprehensive. For water pollution, the proposed measures include the implementation of EU directives from the zero pollution action plan and the introduction of a limit value in the Groundwater Ordinance (Grundwasserverordnung) for medicinal products in ground water (BMUV, 2023).
The implementation progress of the National Water Strategy is monitored every six years by an interministerial work group with state participation. The working group will submit a report using the implementation status of the measures set out in the programs as indicators to measure the outcome of the goals (BMUV, 2023).
Finally, Germany does not have a separate national strategy to address soil pollution. The federal government, however, acknowledged the need for European soil protection in its coalition agreement, thereby supporting the EU’s soil strategy for 2030. While the soil strategy, similar to the National Water Strategy, focuses on the overall soil ecosystem and its health, the reduction of soil pollution harmful to human health is one of the long-term objectives of the strategy (European Commission, 2021).
Generally, existing policies support efforts targeting environmental health. For air pollution, according to the European Environment Agency, Germany met the reduction commitments in both 2020 and 2021. Simultaneously, 0% of the population was exposed to PM2.5, 0.2% to NO2, and 0.4% to an ozone (O3) concentration above the EU standard. While this suggests a strong commitment to protecting the public from health risks due to air pollution, the European Environment Agency still lists around 45,000 deaths per year that are attributable to either PM2.5, NO2, or O3 (European Environment Agency, 2023). Additionally, the WHO recommends values significantly below the permitted maximum value for PM2.5 and NO3. Thus, the EU’s limit value for PM2.5 is 25 micrograms per cubic meter and 40 micrograms for NO3, while the WHO recommends reducing these values to five micrograms for PM2.5 and ten micrograms for NO3 (Tagesschau, 2022).
Regarding the previous question, it is not possible to make an informed statement on whether ministries can efficiently monitor implementation or intervene if effective implementation is endangered.
Citations:
BMUV. 2019. “Nationales Luftreinhalteprogramm der Bundesrepublik Deutschland.” https://www.bmuv.de/fileadmin/Daten_BMU/Download_PDF/Luft/luftreinhalteprogramm_bericht_bf.pdf
BMUV. 2023. “National Water Strategy, Cabinet Decision of 15 March 2023.” https://www.bmuv.de/fileadmin/Daten_BMU/Pools/Broschueren/nationale_wasserstrategie_2023_en.pdf
European Commission. 2021. “EU Soil Strategy for 2030, Reaping the Benefits of Healthy Soils for People, Food, Nature and Climate.” https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52021DC0699
European Environment Agency. 2023. “Germany – Air Pollution Country Fact Sheet.” https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/air/country-fact-sheets/2023-country-fact-sheets/germany-air-pollution-country
Kaar, A., and H. Mendadue. 2020. “Review of the National Air Pollution Control Programme – Germany, Final Report for European Commission – DG Environment Specific contract 070201/2018/791186/SER/ENV.C.3.” Ricardo Energy and Environment 11495 (5). file:///Users/joanalefevre/Downloads/German%20NAPCP%20review%20report.pdf
Tagesschau. 2022. “Großstädter klagen für sauberere Luft.” https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/bundesverfassungsgericht-klage-saubere-luft-101.html.
Regarding air pollution, Germany is required to submit a National Air Pollution Control Program (NAPCP) to the European Commission every four years as part of the EU’s National Emissions Reduction Commitments (NEC) directive. Based on the percentage emissions reduction commitments defined by the NEC directive for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides (NO2), ammonia, non-methane volatile organic compounds, and fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5), the NAPCP must include a With Measures Scenario (WM) and a NEC Compliance Scenario (WAM).
In this context, a scenario refers to the compilation of strategies and measures and their effect on pollutants. Specifically, the WM is meant to include measures that have already been adopted, while the WAM contains strategies and measures aimed at meeting the emissions reduction commitments in the event of noncompliance.
As the NEC directive prescribes specific percentages by which pollutants must be reduced, the NAPCP aims to achieve clearly defined goals. By requiring the program to be published every four years, the directive also provides a mechanism for monitoring progress. The key indicators for measuring outcomes are whether the goals specified in the directive are met.
Since the goals are based on an EU directive, the measures must be codified into national law in order to be binding. Germany passed its first NAPCP in 2019 and, as of June 2023, a draft for the second program exists. The 2019 program outlines how effectively the existing measures contribute to meeting the reduction commitments for each pollutant and what additional measures should be implemented to address any shortfall (BMUV, 2019). Overall, Germany’s NAPCP considers 23 policies and measures for adoption and has adopted 21. For example, the reduction of coal-fired power generation is listed as an effective measure for sulfur dioxide and PM2.5 reduction (Kaar and Menadue, 2022).
The increasing pressure from droughts and their impact on forests, agriculture, and biodiversity prompted the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection (BMUV) to present the National Water Strategy in 2023. Although this strategy focuses on ensuring the responsible use of available water resources, it also addresses health risks associated with water pollution. In support of the EU’s zero pollution plan, the BMUV’s strategy aims to achieve zero pollutants by 2050.
The strategy includes a program of water measures to operationalize the National Water Strategy, making it comprehensive. For water pollution, the proposed measures include the implementation of EU directives from the zero pollution action plan and the introduction of a limit value in the Groundwater Ordinance (Grundwasserverordnung) for medicinal products in ground water (BMUV, 2023).
The implementation progress of the National Water Strategy is monitored every six years by an interministerial work group with state participation. The working group will submit a report using the implementation status of the measures set out in the programs as indicators to measure the outcome of the goals (BMUV, 2023).
Finally, Germany does not have a separate national strategy to address soil pollution. The federal government, however, acknowledged the need for European soil protection in its coalition agreement, thereby supporting the EU’s soil strategy for 2030. While the soil strategy, similar to the National Water Strategy, focuses on the overall soil ecosystem and its health, the reduction of soil pollution harmful to human health is one of the long-term objectives of the strategy (European Commission, 2021).
Generally, existing policies support efforts targeting environmental health. For air pollution, according to the European Environment Agency, Germany met the reduction commitments in both 2020 and 2021. Simultaneously, 0% of the population was exposed to PM2.5, 0.2% to NO2, and 0.4% to an ozone (O3) concentration above the EU standard. While this suggests a strong commitment to protecting the public from health risks due to air pollution, the European Environment Agency still lists around 45,000 deaths per year that are attributable to either PM2.5, NO2, or O3 (European Environment Agency, 2023). Additionally, the WHO recommends values significantly below the permitted maximum value for PM2.5 and NO3. Thus, the EU’s limit value for PM2.5 is 25 micrograms per cubic meter and 40 micrograms for NO3, while the WHO recommends reducing these values to five micrograms for PM2.5 and ten micrograms for NO3 (Tagesschau, 2022).
Regarding the previous question, it is not possible to make an informed statement on whether ministries can efficiently monitor implementation or intervene if effective implementation is endangered.
Citations:
BMUV. 2019. “Nationales Luftreinhalteprogramm der Bundesrepublik Deutschland.” https://www.bmuv.de/fileadmin/Daten_BMU/Download_PDF/Luft/luftreinhalteprogramm_bericht_bf.pdf
BMUV. 2023. “National Water Strategy, Cabinet Decision of 15 March 2023.” https://www.bmuv.de/fileadmin/Daten_BMU/Pools/Broschueren/nationale_wasserstrategie_2023_en.pdf
European Commission. 2021. “EU Soil Strategy for 2030, Reaping the Benefits of Healthy Soils for People, Food, Nature and Climate.” https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52021DC0699
European Environment Agency. 2023. “Germany – Air Pollution Country Fact Sheet.” https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/air/country-fact-sheets/2023-country-fact-sheets/germany-air-pollution-country
Kaar, A., and H. Mendadue. 2020. “Review of the National Air Pollution Control Programme – Germany, Final Report for European Commission – DG Environment Specific contract 070201/2018/791186/SER/ENV.C.3.” Ricardo Energy and Environment 11495 (5). file:///Users/joanalefevre/Downloads/German%20NAPCP%20review%20report.pdf
Tagesschau. 2022. “Großstädter klagen für sauberere Luft.” https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/bundesverfassungsgericht-klage-saubere-luft-101.html.
Graph View
How committed is the government to preserving ecosystems and protecting biodiversity?
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9
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The government is clearly committed to protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
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The government is largely committed to protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
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The government is only somewhat committed to protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
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The government is not at all committed to protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
In March 2023, Germany introduced the Federal Action Plan on Nature-based Solutions for Climate and Biodiversity (Aktionsprogramm Natürlicher Klimaschutz, ANK), previously mentioned in P 17. Of the ten fields of action to protect the climate and biodiversity, five specifically target the preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity, each with its own action plan that details measures and goals. For each measure, the ANK outlines its aim and purpose and the plans the government has made to achieve it (BMUV, 2023).
The first three fields focus on the protection of intact peatlands, the water balance of rivers, lakes, and floodplains, and seas and coasts. Protection of intact peatlands includes the implementation of the federal state target agreement on climate change mitigation through peat soil conservation and the National Peatland Protection Strategy from 2022. While marine and coastal ecosystems are a field of action, the measures mainly focus on protecting and restoring plant ecosystems to ensure carbon sequestration. The topic of overfishing is not addressed.
The fourth and fifth fields describe measures planned to protect wilderness and protected areas and conserve forest ecosystems, which can sequester large quantities of greenhouse gases and are crucial for biodiversity conservation. With measures for protected areas and forests, Germany aims to expand the covered areas, following the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 (BMUV, 2023). These measures do not include policies to prevent poaching or the trafficking of protected flora and fauna species.
To date, the Federal Action Plan is not subject to concrete monitoring efforts. However, the government aims to develop and implement a biodiversity monitoring plan to identify and quantify the effects of the Action Plan on biodiversity conservation in Germany. Additionally, the plan includes measures to monitor individual ecosystems, such as water balance analyses and soil quality monitoring (BMUV, 2023a).
The restoration of degraded soils and the goal of ensuring sustainable food production systems and resilient agricultural practices are not included in the Action Plan. However, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) published the Organic Farming Strategy 2030 (Bio-Strategie 2030) in 2023. The main goal of this strategy is to achieve 30% organic farming by 2030, based on the premise that organic farming is more resource-efficient, environmentally friendly, and sustainable compared to conventional agricultural practices. This contributes to biodiversity conservation, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and increased autonomy by requiring less fossil energy.
With 30 individual measures allocated to six fields of action, the Organic Farming Strategy includes extensive measures such as promoting biological and genetic diversity in the agricultural landscape, crops, and livestock. According to the BMEL, interim and final evaluations will be published in 2026 and 2030, using the implementation status of the measures as indicators. Additionally, the ministry will continuously monitor and report on the implementation (BMEL, 2023b).
Both the Organic Farming Strategy and the Federal Action Plan outline comprehensive policies for their respective goals. However, while the respective ministries formulate the plans and strategies and the government aims to commit to these measures and reach the determined goals, they are not legally binding.
To mitigate issues arising from policy delegation, the Federal Action Plan intends to foster close cooperation between the federal government and the states. For example, in peat soil conservation, a permanent federal-state committee will be established to monitor and coordinate implementation, addressing regional issues. Additionally, the federal government plans to create voluntary alliances with states, municipalities, and private forest owners to implement a logging ban in old-growth forests.
Beyond the Organic Farming Strategy and the Federal Action Plan, multiple policies and programs support ecosystem and biodiversity protection. Since 2007, Germany has had the National Strategy for Biodiversity (Nationale Strategie zur Biologischen Vielfalt), which includes around 330 goals and 430 measures concerning biodiversity (BMUV, 2023b). Moreover, the Federal Nature Conservation Act (Bundesnaturschutzgesetz, BNatSchG) includes regulations on the protection of wild fauna and flora (Article 37ff.) as well as on marine nature conservation (Article 56ff.).
However, in 2019, the indicator for species diversity and landscape quality by the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) reached only 75.3%, falling short of the target value of 100% for 2030. This highlights a considerable need for development in biodiversity (Umweltbundesamt, 2023). Another indicator for the success of ecosystem preservation policies in Germany is the Ocean Health Index (OHI), which scored Germany with 88 points out of 100 for 2020, placing the country above the global average of 72 points. The two main issues identified by the index are clean water and fisheries, the latter not being included in the Federal Action Plan (Ocean Health Index, 2020).
Citations:
BMEL. 2023. “Bio-Strategie 2030, Nationale Strategie für 30 Prozent ökologische Land- und Lebensmittelwirtschaft bis 2030.” https://www.bmel.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Broschueren/bio-strategie-2030.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=7
BMEL. 2023. “Boosting Organic Farming: Developing the 2030 Organic Farming Strategy.” https://www.bmel.de/EN/topics/farming/organic-farming/strategy-future-organic-farming.html
BMUV. 2023. “Federal Action Plan on Nature-based Solutions for Climate and Biodiversity.” https://www.bmuv.de/fileadmin/Daten_BMU/Pools/Broschueren/ank_publikation_en_bf.pdf
BMUV. 2023. “Nationale Strategie zur Biologischen Vielfalt.” https://www.bmuv.de/themen/naturschutz/allgemeines-/-strategien/nationale-strategie
Ocean Health Index. 2020. “Global Ocean Health Index Scores.” https://ohi-science.org/ohi-global/scores
Umweltbundesamt. 2023. “Indicator: Species Diversity and Landscape Quality.” https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/en/data/environmental-indicators/indicator-species-diversity-landscape-quality#at-a-glance
The first three fields focus on the protection of intact peatlands, the water balance of rivers, lakes, and floodplains, and seas and coasts. Protection of intact peatlands includes the implementation of the federal state target agreement on climate change mitigation through peat soil conservation and the National Peatland Protection Strategy from 2022. While marine and coastal ecosystems are a field of action, the measures mainly focus on protecting and restoring plant ecosystems to ensure carbon sequestration. The topic of overfishing is not addressed.
The fourth and fifth fields describe measures planned to protect wilderness and protected areas and conserve forest ecosystems, which can sequester large quantities of greenhouse gases and are crucial for biodiversity conservation. With measures for protected areas and forests, Germany aims to expand the covered areas, following the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 (BMUV, 2023). These measures do not include policies to prevent poaching or the trafficking of protected flora and fauna species.
To date, the Federal Action Plan is not subject to concrete monitoring efforts. However, the government aims to develop and implement a biodiversity monitoring plan to identify and quantify the effects of the Action Plan on biodiversity conservation in Germany. Additionally, the plan includes measures to monitor individual ecosystems, such as water balance analyses and soil quality monitoring (BMUV, 2023a).
The restoration of degraded soils and the goal of ensuring sustainable food production systems and resilient agricultural practices are not included in the Action Plan. However, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) published the Organic Farming Strategy 2030 (Bio-Strategie 2030) in 2023. The main goal of this strategy is to achieve 30% organic farming by 2030, based on the premise that organic farming is more resource-efficient, environmentally friendly, and sustainable compared to conventional agricultural practices. This contributes to biodiversity conservation, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and increased autonomy by requiring less fossil energy.
With 30 individual measures allocated to six fields of action, the Organic Farming Strategy includes extensive measures such as promoting biological and genetic diversity in the agricultural landscape, crops, and livestock. According to the BMEL, interim and final evaluations will be published in 2026 and 2030, using the implementation status of the measures as indicators. Additionally, the ministry will continuously monitor and report on the implementation (BMEL, 2023b).
Both the Organic Farming Strategy and the Federal Action Plan outline comprehensive policies for their respective goals. However, while the respective ministries formulate the plans and strategies and the government aims to commit to these measures and reach the determined goals, they are not legally binding.
To mitigate issues arising from policy delegation, the Federal Action Plan intends to foster close cooperation between the federal government and the states. For example, in peat soil conservation, a permanent federal-state committee will be established to monitor and coordinate implementation, addressing regional issues. Additionally, the federal government plans to create voluntary alliances with states, municipalities, and private forest owners to implement a logging ban in old-growth forests.
Beyond the Organic Farming Strategy and the Federal Action Plan, multiple policies and programs support ecosystem and biodiversity protection. Since 2007, Germany has had the National Strategy for Biodiversity (Nationale Strategie zur Biologischen Vielfalt), which includes around 330 goals and 430 measures concerning biodiversity (BMUV, 2023b). Moreover, the Federal Nature Conservation Act (Bundesnaturschutzgesetz, BNatSchG) includes regulations on the protection of wild fauna and flora (Article 37ff.) as well as on marine nature conservation (Article 56ff.).
However, in 2019, the indicator for species diversity and landscape quality by the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) reached only 75.3%, falling short of the target value of 100% for 2030. This highlights a considerable need for development in biodiversity (Umweltbundesamt, 2023). Another indicator for the success of ecosystem preservation policies in Germany is the Ocean Health Index (OHI), which scored Germany with 88 points out of 100 for 2020, placing the country above the global average of 72 points. The two main issues identified by the index are clean water and fisheries, the latter not being included in the Federal Action Plan (Ocean Health Index, 2020).
Citations:
BMEL. 2023. “Bio-Strategie 2030, Nationale Strategie für 30 Prozent ökologische Land- und Lebensmittelwirtschaft bis 2030.” https://www.bmel.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Broschueren/bio-strategie-2030.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=7
BMEL. 2023. “Boosting Organic Farming: Developing the 2030 Organic Farming Strategy.” https://www.bmel.de/EN/topics/farming/organic-farming/strategy-future-organic-farming.html
BMUV. 2023. “Federal Action Plan on Nature-based Solutions for Climate and Biodiversity.” https://www.bmuv.de/fileadmin/Daten_BMU/Pools/Broschueren/ank_publikation_en_bf.pdf
BMUV. 2023. “Nationale Strategie zur Biologischen Vielfalt.” https://www.bmuv.de/themen/naturschutz/allgemeines-/-strategien/nationale-strategie
Ocean Health Index. 2020. “Global Ocean Health Index Scores.” https://ohi-science.org/ohi-global/scores
Umweltbundesamt. 2023. “Indicator: Species Diversity and Landscape Quality.” https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/en/data/environmental-indicators/indicator-species-diversity-landscape-quality#at-a-glance
Graph View
To what extent is the government committed and credible in designing and promoting global environmental protection regimes and policies?
10
9
9
Government policy and institutions are fully aligned with efforts to achieve global environmental sustainability.
8
7
6
7
6
Government policy and institutions are largely aligned with efforts to achieve global environmental sustainability.
5
4
3
4
3
Government policy and institutions are somewhat aligned with efforts to achieve global environmental sustainability.
2
1
1
Government policy and institutions are not at all aligned with efforts to achieve global environmental sustainability.
Germany is part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, which provide the framework for its climate foreign policy. With a participation rate of 1.0, Germany, alongside Finland, has the highest participation rate in global and regional multilateral environmental agreements .
In 2023, coinciding with the UN Climate Change Conference, Germany adopted its first environmental cooperation strategy, the Strategy on Climate Foreign Policy (Klimaaußenpolitik-Strategie, KAP). While not legally binding, the strategy defines specific fields of action and instruments, signaling Germany’s commitment as a reliable and supportive partner (BMUV, 2023).
The KAP focuses on six areas, including reducing global GHG emissions by 2030, ensuring climate justice, and protecting, promoting, and restoring the sustainable use of ecosystems. Capacity-building targets are a substantial part of the strategy. For instance, the KAP calls for tripling installed renewable energy capacities and doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvement. It pledges to work with partner countries to advance renewable energies and enhance energy efficiency (Die Bundesregierung, 2023).
Germany acknowledges that as a member of the G20, it is part of a group responsible for around 80% of global emissions while also benefiting from high economic output. Consequently, the strategy emphasizes the particular responsibility of G20 countries, including Germany, to implement ambitious climate policies. It also addresses “climate justice,” highlighting that states and communities in Africa and small island developing states are especially affected by climate change. Germany addresses some of the resulting spillover effects (Die Bundesregierung, 2023).
Existing cooperation policies support capacity-building and skills development for global environmental protection. For example, based on the commitment in the Paris Agreement to Nationally Determined Contributions (Nationale Klimabeiträge, NDCs), the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and BMUV initiated the NDC Partnership in 2016. The main objective of the NDC Partnership is to promote the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through coordinated bilateral and multilateral donor programs (BMZ, 2023a). Additionally, through the International Climate Initiative (IKI), the BMUV, BMWK, and Federal Foreign Office support measures helping partner countries adapt to climate change or restore natural carbon sinks. From 2008 to 2022, with funding of almost €6 billion, the IKI has approved over 950 climate and biodiversity projects globally in more than 150 countries (IKI, 2023).
Germany is the EU member state committed to paying the highest amount toward the international $100 billion climate finance commitment under the UNFCCC in 2021, contributing €7,844 million. For reference, France, the second-highest contributor, committed €5,781 million (Eurostat, 2022).
One example of government contribution is a joint funding project in Kenya and Senegal by the BMZ, the Green Climate Fund, and partner governments. Since a majority of the population in Kenya and Senegal cook using biomass (firewood, charcoal, and plant residues), releasing significant greenhouse gases, the project aims to provide improved stoves as low-carbon cooking techniques. The objective is to promote the capacity of a market for efficient cooking technologies and increase the capabilities of both the supply and demand sides. The BMZ, as a main donor, contributed €1.5 billion from 2020 to 2023 (BMZ, 2023b).
Germany also supports technologies for positive environmental development, primarily through financial assistance rather than direct transfer and dissemination of technologies. For example, the German government and the KfW Group created the PtX Development Fund to promote the use of green hydrogen in developing countries as an energy carrier, enabling access to that technology. According to the KAP, the German government plans to invest €270 million into the fund (Die Bundesregierung, 2023).
As Germany’s first Strategy on Climate Foreign Policy, the KAP has not yet undergone evaluations to monitor progress in capacity-building in recipient countries. However, an evaluation of bilateral cooperation is planned for the end of 2024 to adapt the strategy accordingly. Indicators will assess whether and how well measures were implemented (Die Bundesregierung, 2023). Additionally, mandated by the BMZ, the German Institute for Development Evaluations analyzes development cooperation activities and measures, including those for global environmental sustainability (DEval, 2023).
Citations:
BMUV. 2023. “Emissionen senken, global handeln, Chancen ergreifen: Die Klimaaußenpolitikstrategie der Bundesregierung.” https://www.bmuv.de/pressemitteilung/emissionen-senken-global-handeln-chancen-ergreifen-die-klimaaussenpolitikstrategie-der-bundesregierung
BMZ. 2023a. “NDC-Partnerschaft.” https://www.bmz.de/de/themen/klimawandel-und-entwicklung/ndc-partnerschaft
BMZ. 2023. “Optimised Stoves Reduce Carbon Footprints.” https://www.bmz.de/en/issues/climate-change-and-development/climate-financing/example-kenya-senegal-79816
DEval. 2023. “Goals and Functions.” https://www.deval.org/en/about-us/the-institute/goals-and-functions
Die Bundesregierung. 2023. “Die Klimaaußenpolitik-Strategie der Bundesregierung.” https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/blob/2633110/7d086ff77b692c97eb0ea82d689d6bd9/kap-strategie-data.pdf
Eurostat. 2022. “Contribution to the International 100bn USD Commitment on Climate Related Expenditures.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/sdg_13_50/default/table?lang=en
IKI. 2023. “About the IKI.” https://www.international-climate-initiative.com/en/about-iki/
KfW. 2024. “Integrated Financing for Green Hydrogen – A Perfect Fit and from a Single Source.” https://www.kfw-entwicklungsbank.de/Our-topics/PtX/
In 2023, coinciding with the UN Climate Change Conference, Germany adopted its first environmental cooperation strategy, the Strategy on Climate Foreign Policy (Klimaaußenpolitik-Strategie, KAP). While not legally binding, the strategy defines specific fields of action and instruments, signaling Germany’s commitment as a reliable and supportive partner (BMUV, 2023).
The KAP focuses on six areas, including reducing global GHG emissions by 2030, ensuring climate justice, and protecting, promoting, and restoring the sustainable use of ecosystems. Capacity-building targets are a substantial part of the strategy. For instance, the KAP calls for tripling installed renewable energy capacities and doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvement. It pledges to work with partner countries to advance renewable energies and enhance energy efficiency (Die Bundesregierung, 2023).
Germany acknowledges that as a member of the G20, it is part of a group responsible for around 80% of global emissions while also benefiting from high economic output. Consequently, the strategy emphasizes the particular responsibility of G20 countries, including Germany, to implement ambitious climate policies. It also addresses “climate justice,” highlighting that states and communities in Africa and small island developing states are especially affected by climate change. Germany addresses some of the resulting spillover effects (Die Bundesregierung, 2023).
Existing cooperation policies support capacity-building and skills development for global environmental protection. For example, based on the commitment in the Paris Agreement to Nationally Determined Contributions (Nationale Klimabeiträge, NDCs), the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and BMUV initiated the NDC Partnership in 2016. The main objective of the NDC Partnership is to promote the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through coordinated bilateral and multilateral donor programs (BMZ, 2023a). Additionally, through the International Climate Initiative (IKI), the BMUV, BMWK, and Federal Foreign Office support measures helping partner countries adapt to climate change or restore natural carbon sinks. From 2008 to 2022, with funding of almost €6 billion, the IKI has approved over 950 climate and biodiversity projects globally in more than 150 countries (IKI, 2023).
Germany is the EU member state committed to paying the highest amount toward the international $100 billion climate finance commitment under the UNFCCC in 2021, contributing €7,844 million. For reference, France, the second-highest contributor, committed €5,781 million (Eurostat, 2022).
One example of government contribution is a joint funding project in Kenya and Senegal by the BMZ, the Green Climate Fund, and partner governments. Since a majority of the population in Kenya and Senegal cook using biomass (firewood, charcoal, and plant residues), releasing significant greenhouse gases, the project aims to provide improved stoves as low-carbon cooking techniques. The objective is to promote the capacity of a market for efficient cooking technologies and increase the capabilities of both the supply and demand sides. The BMZ, as a main donor, contributed €1.5 billion from 2020 to 2023 (BMZ, 2023b).
Germany also supports technologies for positive environmental development, primarily through financial assistance rather than direct transfer and dissemination of technologies. For example, the German government and the KfW Group created the PtX Development Fund to promote the use of green hydrogen in developing countries as an energy carrier, enabling access to that technology. According to the KAP, the German government plans to invest €270 million into the fund (Die Bundesregierung, 2023).
As Germany’s first Strategy on Climate Foreign Policy, the KAP has not yet undergone evaluations to monitor progress in capacity-building in recipient countries. However, an evaluation of bilateral cooperation is planned for the end of 2024 to adapt the strategy accordingly. Indicators will assess whether and how well measures were implemented (Die Bundesregierung, 2023). Additionally, mandated by the BMZ, the German Institute for Development Evaluations analyzes development cooperation activities and measures, including those for global environmental sustainability (DEval, 2023).
Citations:
BMUV. 2023. “Emissionen senken, global handeln, Chancen ergreifen: Die Klimaaußenpolitikstrategie der Bundesregierung.” https://www.bmuv.de/pressemitteilung/emissionen-senken-global-handeln-chancen-ergreifen-die-klimaaussenpolitikstrategie-der-bundesregierung
BMZ. 2023a. “NDC-Partnerschaft.” https://www.bmz.de/de/themen/klimawandel-und-entwicklung/ndc-partnerschaft
BMZ. 2023. “Optimised Stoves Reduce Carbon Footprints.” https://www.bmz.de/en/issues/climate-change-and-development/climate-financing/example-kenya-senegal-79816
DEval. 2023. “Goals and Functions.” https://www.deval.org/en/about-us/the-institute/goals-and-functions
Die Bundesregierung. 2023. “Die Klimaaußenpolitik-Strategie der Bundesregierung.” https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/blob/2633110/7d086ff77b692c97eb0ea82d689d6bd9/kap-strategie-data.pdf
Eurostat. 2022. “Contribution to the International 100bn USD Commitment on Climate Related Expenditures.” https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/sdg_13_50/default/table?lang=en
IKI. 2023. “About the IKI.” https://www.international-climate-initiative.com/en/about-iki/
KfW. 2024. “Integrated Financing for Green Hydrogen – A Perfect Fit and from a Single Source.” https://www.kfw-entwicklungsbank.de/Our-topics/PtX/