Greenhouse gas reductions in Germany and the UK - Coincidence or policy induced?

This brochure gives an overview of the underlying factors for greenhouse gas emission trends in Germany and the UK in the 1990s. The main focus of the brochure was to assess, to which extend the observed reductions of the specified basket of six greenhouse gases are the result of special circumstances, i.e. the reunification of Germany and the liberalisation of the energy markets in the UK, and to which extend these emissions reductions are the result of specific policy measures. For both of the country case studies it can be concluded that emission reductions arising from special circumstances account for 40-50% of the reductions for all Kyoto gases, and for almost 60% for energy-related CO2 emissions. However, environmental policies in both countries also had a major impact on the reduction of greenhouse gases. Thus, the observed reductions are mix of both, coincidence and hard work. Nevertheless, both countries, and perhaps the UK even more than Germany, might miss their national targets unless additional policies are implemented in the near future.