Programme of Measures to Reduce CO2 Emissions in Germany

The declaration by German industry was issued in 1995 and updated and considerably expanded in 1996. The Federation of German Industries and 19 individual industrial associations declared their willingness to make special efforts to reduce their specific Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions by 20 per cent in 2005, based on the 1990 levels. The CO₂ reduction based on the expected net savings of the voluntary commitment refers to measures which aim at higher energy efficiencies. The residential sector provides by far the highest sectoral contribution to the total CO₂ reduction by policy measures. It reaches 28 million tonnes or 33 per cent. The amendment of the mineral oil tax on gasoline and diesel oil fuels will lead to a CO₂ reduction of 5 million tonnes. The added tax revenue resulting from the increase of the mineral oil tax is to be used to finance urgent tasks in the transport sector and to reduce the debt of German Rail.