Looking back from the future: How does Germany become carbon neutral?

Germany in the year 2050. The goal of a carbon dioxide-neutral life and economy has been achieved: Greenhouse gas emissions have fallen drastically, and unavoidable emissions are counterbalanced. Changes in energy supply and new solutions in industry, transportation and traffic are key to avoiding and reducing emissions. Adaptations in agriculture and land management, such as the rewetting of peatlands and restoration of seagrass meadows, help to store carbon in natural ways. In addition, there technological approaches to removing and storing carbon dioxide (CO₂) have been taken.

In this innovative study, 37 researchers from the Helmholtz Climate Initiative's “Net Zero-2050” focus look back to the present from the future. In a so-called “backcasting” approach, they bring together analyses from energy system models, findings on the circular economy in the carbon system, and evaluations of the national potential for carbon removal. The results are summarized in a retrospective of developments over the past 30 years from the year 2050. “Our vision helps to focus the discussion on the goal of our societal development,” explains Dr. Nadine Mengis, climate scientist at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and coordinator of the study. “From our net-zero vision, we can draw conclusions for our actions today: We see that we will only reach our goal if CO₂ emissions are drastically and rapidly reduced by expanding renewables. In addition, we have to remove all CO₂ emissions that cannot be avoided from the atmosphere again. This is the only way to ultimately achieve a zero balance.”

The vision describes realistic options and the potential of a net-zero Germany. The authors draw three important conclusions from their consideration of the various sectors: “Rapid adaptation of the energy system to a supply from renewable sources is key to achieving net zero in Germany,” explains Dr. Mengis. But not all emissions can be completely avoided or reduced, she adds. Natural storage of carbon dioxide could only be increased to a limited extent in Germany, she said. “That’s why we had to consider technological measures for active removal and storage in geological formations in the ground.” The less emissions are cut, the more relevant these approaches become. “It is crucial to properly account for avoiding and removing emissions through natural sink enhancement; and the mitigation potential of peatland rewetting is a prime example of this”, Dr. Aram Kalhori, researcher at the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) and co-coordinator of the study, adds.

“In our vision, the need for technological measures for CO₂ removal arises because, on the one hand, we did not want to assume strong changes in individual behaviour, and on the other hand, we did not want to compensate emissions outside the country,” Dr. Mengis summarizes. Implementing all the measures also requires appropriate legal and political frameworks, economic flexibility and social acceptance.

“What we need now is a political and societal debate on how we want to bring Germany to net zero, and we need to make bold decisions,” Dr. Mengis said. “However, our vision for Germany in 2050 is only one possible path. Whether our study describes a desirable net-zero future or we want to take other paths - that's something we can only decide together as a society.”

Original publication:

Mengis, N., Kalhori A., et al., Net-zero CO₂ Germany – A Retrospect from the Year 2050, Earth’s Future, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021EF002324

About the Helmholtz Climate Initiative

The Helmholtz Climate Initiative investigates systemic solutions for one of the greatest societal challenges of our time: climate change. Scientists from 15 Helmholtz Centres are working together to develop strategies for mitigating emissions and adapting to unavoidable climate impacts – with a focus on Germany: Cluster I “Mitigation – Net Zero 2050” is developing contributions to a roadmap that shows how Germany could reduce its carbon dioxide emissions to net zero by 2050. Cluster II “Adaptation” investigates adaptation options in areas of life affected by climate change, such as health, agriculture, energy supply or transport. The Helmholtz Climate Initiative makes scientifically based knowledge available to many areas of society and enters into dialogue with those responsible in politics, business and the media as well as the interested public.

Images are available for download at http://www.geomar.de/n8304-e