Germany is likely to miss its self-imposed 2020 greenhouse gas emission reduction target of 40% when compared to 1990 levels, and instead only reach a 32% cut, the 2017 Climate Report approved by the cabinet today admits, pointing to a faster-than-expected growth in the economy and population.

The expected shortcoming of around 100 million tonnes of CO2 is also greater than originally expected due to an overestimate of what reduction could be achieved with certain climate protection measures, in particular in the transport sector, the environment ministry said.