Germany has cut its greenhouse gas emissions to below levels required under the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. The nation’s factories, power plants and other emitters released a combined 957 million tons of CO2 last year, a decline of 2.3 percent from the previous year.

The upper house of the German Parliament had recently passed a law aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions by agreeing to double the amount of power from renewable energy sources and changing methods for generating electricity. Homeowners and businesses were encouraged to cut air pollution by using electricity generated by wind turbines and solar panels. 

The success behind Germany’s green speed can mainly be attributed to the country’s willingness to create markets and businesses that profit from higher environmental standards.

Chancellor Angela Merkel, a former environment minister, has made climate change a cornerstone of her domestic and foreign policy. Her initiative to support new measures that cut CO2 emissions is really helping the country go green. 

Germany's wind turbines generate nearly 23,000 megawatts of power that account for 6% of total energy consumption.

The country’s Green Dot Recycling system has been one of the most successful recycling initiatives in the world.

Rubbish Sorting in Germany