Germany's Responsibility Towards The Environment

Germany Federal Republic of Germany [Country Profile Page]
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	9th best
Capital	Berlin
Land Area	348 570km21
Location	Europe
Population	83.1m2
Life Expectancy	80.63yrs (2017)3
GNI	$54 534 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	DE, DEU, 2765
Internet Domain	.de6
Currency	Euro (EUR)7
Telephone	+498

In terms of its responsibility towards the environment, Germany comes 24th in the world. This is calculated from 21 data sets. Germany comes in the best 20 in terms of its score on the Green Future Index₉, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment and in its environmental performance₁₀. It does better than average in energy to GDP efficiency₁₁ and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₁₂. But, there's bad news too. Germany does worse than average in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₁₃ (still good for Europe) and in reducing annual meat consumption per person₁₄.

1. Germany's Responsibility Towards The Environment
2. Data Sets
   1. Forest Area Change 2000-2020
   2. Environmental Performance
   3. Energy to GDP Efficiency
   4. International Accords on the Environment
   5. Rational Beliefs on the Environment
   6. Meat Consumption
   7. Green Future Index
3. Links

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1. Germany's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#climate_change #the_environment

Compared to Europe (2025)15
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank15
1	Switzerland	45.0
2	Denmark	50.4
3	Liechtenstein	56.8
4	Portugal	58.0
5	Germany	58.2
6	Spain	59.5
7	Austria	59.6
8	Greece	61.4
9	Italy	63.1
10	Ireland	63.1
11	Cyprus	64.8
12	Hungary	65.8
13	Norway	66.9
	Europe Avg	86.45
q=48.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)15
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank15
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
21	Kenya	57.9
22	Portugal	58.0
23	Mauritius	58.1
24	Germany	58.2
25	Ghana	58.6
26	Thailand	59.5
27	Spain	59.5
28	Austria	59.6
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

2. Data Sets

2.1. Forest Area Change 2000-2020

#biodiversity #deforestation #environmentalism #forests #over-exploitation #the_environment

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better12
Pos.		Total12
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
76	Iraq	0.9%
77	Russia	0.7%
78	French Polynesia	0.6%
79	Germany	0.6%
80	Norway	0.6%
81	Cyprus	0.5%
82	New Zealand	0.4%
83	Slovenia	0.4%
	Europe Avg	8.2%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Germany ranks 79th in the world regarding its forested percent change 2000-2020.

Forests are carbon sinks, mitigating against climate change_16,17. Unfortunately, we are destroying over 70,000 km² of forest each year₁₈. In the last few thousand years, we've removed 30-40% of the Earth's forest cover_19,17, mostly to clear space for agriculture, and for logging_20,21. The produce from both is shipped from poorer countries to richer ones. Half-hearted government efforts and company obfuscation of supply chains makes it almost impossible for consumers to tell which foods and products are from sustainable sources, and which ones are encouraging irresponsible deforestation, meaning that there is little incentive for companies to relent.

The effects are catastrophic. 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions are the result of deforestation_22,20. It brings soil erosion from wind and rain which, over time, can almost-permanently stop any hope of growing food₂₃, and spreads desertification. Entire ecosystems are collapsing as a result, including ones that we depend upon₂₄. The water cycle is driven by forests, and their loss reduces ordinary rainfall, increases flooding, removes an abundant source of water filtration, and contributes to a rise in water levels.₂₅.

Some regions of the world are increasing their forest cover₁₇; the best from 2000-2020 are Scandinavia (13.8% ), The Balkans (11.0% ) and Baltic States (7.6% )₁₂. There is an overall trend that developed countries gathered their riches by using up their natural resources, and now, they pay poorer countries to use up theirs instead, whilst they can afford to slowly rebuild their natural environments. But it's not wholly that simple - some rich regions are still burning through what they've got. The regions clearing their forests fastest are Central America (-12.8% ), Africa (-9.1% ) and North America (-2.9% )₁₂.

For more, see:

• "Deforestation" by Vexen Crabtree (2024).

Many rich countries. including Germany, are increasing their forest cover whilst they import foods and goods that result from deforestation elsewhere. Tracing supply chains is difficult and supply firms obfuscate the chain of production so it's difficult to tell what products are to blame, and, some governments are particularly reluctant to fund investigations into the deforestation footprint of imports.

“Keiichiro Kanemoto and Nguyen Tien Hoang, of the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature in Japan, combined data on global forest loss with that on international trade between 2001 and 2015. They calculated that rich-country demand [...] contributed to a net loss of 20,000 square kilometres of forest in the rest of the world in 2015 alone.”

The Economist (2021)₂₆

When it comes to actions that encourage deforestation, Germany is one of the better countries, but its imports of cocoa in particular fund deforestation in Ghana and the Ivory Coast₁₇. The USA should take deforestation more seriously and engage in the international efforts, as the negative effects of deforestation will affect us all, but cannot be handled well by countries working alone.

Averages by decade for Germany (for the ranks, lower is better):

Forest Area Change 2000-2020	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Germany:	0.5%	0.1%
World Rank:	71st	⇣  79th
World Avg:	0.6%	-0.7%

2.2. Environmental Performance

#climate_change #energy #sustainability #the_environment

Environmental Performance Higher is better10
Pos.		201810
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
10	Finland	78.6
11	Iceland	78.6
12	Spain	78.4
13	Germany	78.4
14	Norway	77.5
15	Belgium	77.4
16	Italy	77.0
17	New Zealand	76.0
	Europe Avg	69.6
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

With respect to its environmental performance, Germany is positioned 13th-best in the world.

The Environmental Performance Index 2018 data includes 24 indicators including air pollution, water and sanitation, biodiversity, ecosystems and environmental health, combined into a single score by country, by the Yale University Center for Environmental Law & Policy.

2.3. Energy to GDP Efficiency

#energy #sustainability #the_environment

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better11
Pos.		2022 Avg11
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
57	Turkey	0.86
58	Senegal	0.87
59	Sao Tome & Principe	0.88
60	Germany	0.91
61	Palestine	0.91
62	Cyprus	0.92
63	Tunisia	0.93
64	Israel	0.94
	Europe Avg	1.25
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

In terms of energy to GDP efficiency, Germany is 60th in the world.

GDP per unit of energy consumption is often called 'Energy Intensity'. It's how efficient countries are at producing GDP in terms of primary energy use. It represents primary energy consumption using the substitution method, per unit of gross domestic product (GDP). A lower value means that less energy was used to maintain the country's GDP.

Averages by decade for Germany (for the ranks, lower is better):

Energy to GDP Efficiency	1960s  Average	1970s  Average	1980s  Average	1990s  Average	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Germany:	2.64	2.57	2.24	1.75	1.34	1.05
World Rank:	46th	⇣  48th	⇣  106th	⇡  93rd	⇡  85th	⇡  71st
World Avg:	2.05	2.13	2.10	2.15	1.60	1.30

2.4. International Accords on the Environment

#environmentalism #internationalism

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
8	Georgia	79%
9	Switzerland	78%
10	Nigeria	78%
11	Germany	76%
12	Belarus	76%
13	Lithuania	75%
14	Australia	74%
15	Uruguay	74%
	Europe Avg	62.7%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

Germany comes 11th-best in the world regarding its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment.

Each country is scored using a formula that takes the date each country took up major international environmental agreements, as a ratio of maximum possible days. The agreements covered are: (1) the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, (2) the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for certain hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides, (3) the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, (4) the Waigani Convention (for those countries that are eligible), (5) the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), (6) the Kyoto Protocol and (7) its successor, the Paris Agreement, (8) the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), (9) the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and finally, (10) the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Germany was amongst the first batch of countries who signed the Montreal Protocol on protecting the Ozone layer in 1988 whilst most others delayed until subsequent years.

“The German Climate Change Act sets the obligation to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 65% of 1990 levels by 2030 and achieve GHG neutrality by 2045 (see trajectory in Figure 1). Germany accounts for 23.7% of the EU's net GHG emissions and reduced its net emissions by 30.7% between 2005 and 2023, slightly above the EU average of 30.5%. As shown below, Germany significantly reduced emissions from the emissions trading sector. However, it missed its target under the EU effort-sharing legislation for the 2013-2020 period, and must maintain strong efforts to meet its 2030 target. Land use, land-use change and forestry has on average delivered a small carbon sink over the period.”

EU 2023 Climate Action Strategy₂₇

Averages by decade for Germany (for the ranks, lower is better):

International Accords on the Environment	1970s  Average	1980s  Average	1990s  Average	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Germany:	35%	65%	65%	94%	99%
World Rank:	22nd	⇡  16th	⇣  35th	⇡  4th	⇣  30th
World Avg:	8.5%	23.3%	45.0%	74.4%	90.7%

2.5. Rational Beliefs on the Environment

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better13
Pos.		2011 %13
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
76	Croatia	37.8%
77	Cambodia	37.1%
78	Namibia	36.6%
79	Germany	36.1%
80	Montenegro	35.9%
81	Rwanda	35.8%
82	Romania	33.4%
83	Luxembourg	33.3%
	Europe Avg	33.6%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Germany comes 79th in the world regarding the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population. In a 2023 survey, 55% of Germans identified climate change as one of the four most serious problems facing the world₂₇. "Most expect the EU (63%) and/or national government (61%) to tackle climate change, while less than half (48%) find it to be a personal responsibility"₂₇.

2.6. Meat Consumption

#animal_rights #animal_welfare #diet #food #health #meat #veganism #vegetarianism

Meat Consumption Lower is better14
Pos.		2021 kg14
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
135	Mexico	75.4
136	Cyprus	75.8
137	Austria	76.4
138	Germany	76.6
139	Greece	76.8
140	Serbia	77.6
141	Russia	78.4
142	Bolivia	78.4
	Europe Avg	71.1
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

Regarding reducing annual meat consumption per person, Germany comes 138th in the world.

There are five key arguments in favour of vegetarianism which accrue even from partial adoption: (1) Vegetarian diets have notable health advantages over carnivorous diets, especially for heart and cardiovascular issues_28,29,30. (2) It is morally better to avoid killing or harming animals. (3) Plant-based diets use much less water than carnivorous ones, to the extent that agricultural and water management scientists urge governments to encourage people to switch₃₁. (4) Vegetarian food production uses substantially less land_28,32,33. And, (5) vegetarianism is better for the environment than meat-production for emissions, sewerage, pollution and chemicals usage._28,32. A plant-based diet causes 75% less greenhouse gas emissions than a typical carnivorous diet₃₃. The global food industry causes about 1/3 of all planet-heating emissions, and so "to slow the worst climate effects, the United Nations has called for a drastic reduction in meat consumption"₃₃. Despite this, "reducing appetites for carbon-intensive meat and dairy is incredibly hard"₃₄ and as countries get richer, they tend to eat more meat.

In the 2010s, meat consumption per person in Germany was well above the global average (of 49kgs per year), putting unnecessary strain on water supplies and the environment. It managed to reduce this by over 10kgs per year (only 17 countries managed the same).₁₄

On average throughout the 2010s, Germany's rate was 84.7.

2.7. Green Future Index

#climate_change #energy #sustainability #the_environment

Green Future Index Higher is better9
Pos.		2023 Score9
1	Iceland	6.7
2	Finland	6.7
3	Norway	6.4
	...
8	S. Korea	6.0
9	France	6.0
10=	Spain	5.9
10=	Germany	5.9
12	Belgium	5.8
13	Italy	5.7
14=	Ireland	5.7
14=	Canada	5.7
	Europe Avg	5.6
	World Avg	4.8
q=76.

Germany comes 10th-best in the world regarding its score on the Green Future Index.

The Green Futures Index (GFI) has been running since 2021, and looks at 23 data sets for over 70 countries, with a focus on effectiveness, policy and planning 'for a low carbon future. It is complementary to existing goals and frameworks for sustainable development'. Datasets include qualitative appraisals and quantitative measurements on carbon emissions across multiple sectors, renewable and nuclear energy, recycling capabilities, green technologies used in building and construction, transport, scientific and industrial green innovations and patent quantities, climate action and climate policies. Each country is then ranked by their final score.₃₅.

The 2023 edition of the Green Futures Index lists Germany among five countries who are doing the best at recycling, alongside Iceland, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan).₃₅