Climate change in Saarland

Climate change in the German state of Saarland affects various environments and industries.

Greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 amounted to 11.7 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, but during this time the Weiher and Bexbach power plants were "in reserve" rather than in operation.^[1]

Saarland experienced significant flooding in 2024.^[2]

In 2023, Saarland adopted the state's Climate Protection Act.^[3] The original legislation had a target of a 55% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 1990, but in 2024 this was amended to be a 65% reduction.^[4]

There were miscalculations at the time the original targets were set, which overestimated the emissions, and after the this was recalculated, the new targets would have been met without intervention.^[4][5]

In order to meet the obligations under the Act, the conversion to green steel on its own would reduce emissions by an amount between 3,500,000 and 5,000,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.^[6]