Germany temporarily brings coal plants back amid the gas shock
In 2022–2023 the government authorised a temporary return of some coal plants to replace missing Russian gas. The 2030 coal-exit goal remained on paper. In the causal graph this event weakens Decarbonization and climate-mitigation policy, a driver that weakens Global CO2 emissions per capita — a worsening welfare path.
Read the full account
In 2022–2023 the government authorised a temporary return of some coal plants to replace missing Russian gas. The 2030 coal-exit goal remained on paper.
Who was responsible
Contribution type and responsibility level for each recorded actor — not sole-author shorthand.
Olaf Scholz
PersonDirect responsibility
responsibility level 0.5 · verified
The economics ministry ran the reserve. The chancellor owned the security guideline. Operators restarted units.
What changed
Fact → Driver → Indicator. Relationship strength orders the paths; it is not the observed indicator movement.
- FactGermany temporarily brings coal plants back amid the gas shock
- weakensDriverDecarbonization and climate-mitigation policy
- weakensIndicators (3)Global CO2 emissions per capita
impact weight 0.45 · Effect from 1 October 2022 · verified
Restarting coal for gas replacement reduces near-term decarbonization coverage even when framed as temporary.
Weakens · Relationship strength 0.27 (weight 0.45 × strength 0.6)
Observed
4.73 tonnes CO2 per person per year · 2.43 above the normal line (2024)
Worse than normalTwo readings: 4.71 tonnes CO2 per person per year (2023) and 4.73 tonnes CO2 per person per year (2024).
20232024 Above normal = worse
Weakens · Relationship strength 0.23 (weight 0.45 × strength 0.5)
Observed
32.9 micrograms per cubic metre (annual mean, population-weighted) · 27.9 above the normal line (2023)
Worse than normal3 readings, 2021–2023: fell from 33.2 micrograms per cubic metre (annual mean, population-weighted) to 32.9 micrograms per cubic metre (annual mean, population-weighted).
Above normal = worse
- Worse
Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.18 (weight 0.45 × strength 0.4)
Observed
30% of electricity generation · 11 above the normal line (2023)
Better than normal6 readings, 2000–2023: rose from 18.9% of electricity generation to 30% of electricity generation.
Above normal = better
Evidence
The sources behind this fact and its verification state.
- 1.Reuters — Germany to extend coal power use amid gas crisisReuters · High credibility · verified
- 2.BMWK — temporary coal plant returnBMWK · High credibility · verified
Causal path
How this event connects to drivers and indicators in the graph.
- ActorOlaf Scholz
- contributed toFactGermany temporarily brings coal plants back amid the gas shock
- weakensDriverDecarbonization and climate-mitigation policy
- weakensIndicatorGlobal CO2 emissions per capita
Cite this page
Factrail. (2026). Germany temporarily brings coal plants back amid the gas shock. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/de-coal-exit-watch-2022
https://factrail.ai/facts/de-coal-exit-watch-2022
Accessed 16 October 2026.
By the Factrail desk · Method: how we source and score · Last reviewed
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