Germany-wide analysis
30 companies emit thirds of greenhouse gases
03/28/2022, 12:46 p.m
In recent years, around half of all greenhouse gas emissions in Germany are attributable to 1,800 corporations. A small group of 30 companies stands out: they are responsible for 36 percent of all emissions. These include some energy companies as well as auto and steel companies.
According to an analysis by the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, several hundred companies in Germany are responsible for a large part of the greenhouse gas emissions in this country. Around 1,800 steelworks, refineries, coal-fired power plants or glass factories emitted almost half of all emissions in the years 2013 to 2020 – a total of almost 3.3 billion tons, as the newspaper reported. A small group of 30 companies caused 36 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.
For the analysis, corporations were examined that are obliged to trade in emission certificates. Within the European Union, this includes not only electricity producers but also, for example, the iron and steel industry and aviation companies.
Energy companies are the biggest emitters
The largest emitters, especially of carbon dioxide, were the energy companies RWE and Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke. But the car and steel industries also caused large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions: Thyssen Krupp and Volkswagen were also among the 30 largest emitters, as were the chemical group BASF and the cement manufacturers Holcim and Heidelberg Cement.
At the request of the SZ, the companies concerned reacted differently: the electricity company Uniper explained that the company produces a “considerable amount of CO2”, so the group plays “an important role” in reducing greenhouse gases. VW also said that the carmaker had “a great responsibility in the fight against global warming”.
The electricity company Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke, on the other hand, criticized the survey. The emissions should therefore not be assigned to a single company, but “fairly” converted to the number of electricity or heat consumers.