Germany deletes over 500,000 emission certificates: a climate milestone!

Germany deletes over 500,000 emission certificates: a climate milestone!

On June 25, 2025, Germany took an important step for climate protection: For the first time, over 514,000 tons of CO2 certificates were deleted as part of the European emission trade. This measure was taken to ensure the positive climate effect of the statutory coal phase -out, which is to take place by 2038. The deletion of the certificates is connected directly to the decommissioning of two power plant blocks in Neurath A and Frechen in 2022, which have saved a total of around 890,000 tons of CO2 emissions. [Windmesse reports that] (https://w3.windmesse.de/windenergie/pm/47568-Deutschland-loscht-uber-500-,000- and-Sichert-jos-positive-Klima-effect-of coal exit) should take place from September to the end of 2025.

The measure complements the market stability reserve (MSR) in European emission trade, which controls the auction quantities and has already withdrawn some of the releasing certificates. It is a targeted attempt to prevent the so -called "water bed effect", in which the savings in an area could be canceled by emissions in another country or sector. According to the previous estimates, 55 % of CO2 savings could be negated in other countries.

The role of the coal phase -out

In a study by the Cliccs of Excellence at the University of Hamburg, the climate effect of the planned coal exit is extensively analyzed by 2038. Study author Prof. Grischa Perino emphasizes that many national climate protection measures are often not properly coordinated with the EU emission trade. The coal phase -out could actually lower the overall emissions in the EU, but only if the federal government continues to delete emission rights. In the sense of the analyzes, Perino says: "The coal phase -out is a good example of overlapping climate policy." Cliccs reports that A close coordination between national and European initiatives is urgently needed.

The challenges are varied: there is a risk of an "internal CO2 leak", with other countries possibly compensating for the closed coal-fired power plants in Germany by increased production, which reduces the positive effects of the savings. A simultaneous drop in price for emission rights can also lead to other sectors record higher emissions. Here the importance of the market stability reserve, which can currently limit the water bed effect, can currently be limited, but may soon be deactivated. IDW emphasizes that National measures without the MSR would be significantly less effective.

practical measures for climate protection

What can citizens do: inside to support the climate? According to the experts, simple things such as less meat eating or consciously acting in terms of electricity consumption are already helpful steps. They also recommend four important thumb rules for effective climate protection measures: to check the activity of the MSR, to implement measures quickly, to reduce the demand for dirty electricity and ultimately delete emission rights as soon as the MSR is no longer active. This is the only way to actually have its intended effect.

The coming months will be crucial to adapt the auction calendar to the deletions of emission rights, for which a corresponding announcement should be made in July. The coal phase -out is on the right track, but without coordinated measures and compliance with the deletion strategies are at risk.