In 2024, the approximately 1,720 stationary installations in Germany in the European Emissions Trading System 1 (EU ETS 1) emitted around 273 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents according to preliminary data from the German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt) at the Federal Environment Agency (UBA). This corresponds to a reduction of around 5.8 percent compared to the previous year. Including emissions in aviation, the decline is 5.3 percent.

The EU ETS 1 covers installations from the energy and industrial sectors, intra-European aviation and, since the 2024 reporting year, maritime transport. The emissions trend for installations covered by EU ETS 1 declined in 2024, in particular due to falling emissions in the energy sector - while overall economic development remained subdued. Emissions from German energy installations fell by around 9.5 percent compared to the previous year. By contrast, emissions in the industrial sector were roughly on with the level of the previous year.

At European level, the EU ETS 1 shows a similar trend to that in Germany. Based on its provisional data from 04/04/2025, the European Commission reports a decline in emissions of around 5 percent for stationary installations and aviation.

Total German emissions also fell in the same period. Based on preliminary figures, the UBA announced a decrease in total emissions of 3.4 percent to 649 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents for 2024 on 14/03/2025. The decrease in emissions in the EU ETS 1 was therefore relatively stronger than the overall trend in German emissions.

Emissions from energy supply:

Emissions from energy installations fell by 9.5 percent to around 171 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents in the 2024 reporting year, the lowest level since the start of EU ETS 1 in 2005 - despite the complete phase-out of nuclear energy production in 2023. The main reasons for this are the decline in electricity generation from hard coal and lignite-fired power plants, the growing proportion of renewable energies and an increasingly negative electricity exchange balance with other countries. The share of renewable energies in gross electricity consumption in Germany rose to around 54 percent in 2024.

Emissions from industry:

Emissions from energy-intensive industries in Germany covered by the EU ETS 1 increased slightly by just over one percent to around 102 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents, the same level as the previous year. Decreases in emissions in the mineral processing industry, particularly in the cement industry, were offset by increases in emissions in other sectors.

It is not yet possible to provide any information on emissions from industrial sector installations that will be subject to emissions trading from 01/01/ 2024 as a result of the amendment to the European Emissions Trading Directive (Directive 2003/87/EC). However, due to their expected relatively low share of emissions in the EU ETS 1, these installations are unlikely to have a significant impact on the overall development described.

Emissions in aviation:

Emissions from aircraft operators managed by Germany rose by around 16 percent in the 2024 reporting year. This increase in emissions compared to the previous year is due to the ongoing recovery of aviation from the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. At around 8.9 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents, emissions in the aviation sector returned to the level before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019.

Emissions in maritime transport:

Maritime transport has been part of EU ETS 1 since 2024 and the entry into force of the revised German Emissions Trading Act (TEHG) has transposed the shipping companies' obligation to surrender emissions into national law. This means that reporting and surrender obligations apply to maritime transport with the same deadlines as for installation and aircraft operators in EU ETS 1. However, due to the complex structures in maritime transport (registration, verification, reporting at ship and company level) and delays in the provision of centralised software and tools, there is currently no reliable information available on the emissions of the ships and shipping companies assigned to Germany.

Obligation to surrender:

Installation and aircraft operators as well as shipping companies have until 30/09/2025 to submit the required emission allowances to DEHSt in the amount of their emissions for 2024.

Emissions trading and total emissions:

According to preliminary calculations, the share of EU ETS 1 in the German greenhouse gas emissions recorded and published by UBA for 2024 is around 43 percent. Maritime transport and the installations that became subject to emissions trading when the TEHG amendment came into force in 2024 could not yet be taken into account here. The final emissions within the EU ETS 1 will be published by DEHSt in July as part of an evaluation report. In autumn of this year, the emissions in the National Emissions Trading Scheme (nEHS) for the reporting year 2024 will also be published. The nEHS covers all fuel emissions outside of EU ETS 1 in particular from the transport and the building sector.