Giessen's CO₂ Emissions Climb 4.4% in 2024, Testing Climate Goals

A 4.4% spike in emissions puts Giessen's climate neutrality at risk. The city bets on a bold heat plan and bus expansion—but will it be enough?

, and Administrator

2026 February 12 . 9:15 PM

1 min read

The image shows a large building with a green wall on the side of it, surrounded by street poles,... — The image shows a large building with a green wall on the side of it, surrounded by street poles, street lights, traffic poles, traffic signals, motor vehicles on the road, persons walking on the footpath, trees and a sky with clouds in the background. This building is part of the Green Building Project, which is a sustainable and eco-friendly building.

Giessen's CO₂ Emissions Climb 4.4% in 2024, Testing Climate Goals

Giessen's greenhouse gas emissions rose in 2024, reaching 588,079 metric tons of CO₂ equivalents. This marked a 4.4 percent increase from the previous year. The city now faces the challenge of cutting per capita emissions by more than half by 2035 to meet climate neutrality targets.

The transport sector remained the largest source of emissions in 2024, responsible for 39 percent of the city's total. Despite this, overall energy use showed a slight decline. Final energy consumption dropped by around 1.5 percent to 1,875,083 MWh, while per capita consumption fell from 20.3 MWh in 2023 to 20.1 MWh in 2024.

To tackle these challenges, Giessen's city council adopted a municipal heat plan in July 2025. The strategy outlines steps to overhaul the city's heating systems. Key projects include the construction of PowerLahn, an advanced combined heat and power plant, and the expansion of the bus network starting in 2026. These measures aim to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and improve public transport efficiency.

Giessen must slash per capita emissions by 54.3 percent within the next decade. The new heat plan and transport upgrades form the backbone of this effort. Success will depend on implementing these projects while continuing to monitor energy trends across the city.