Transport system · Sustainability
Transport is one of the sectors where Germany's emissions are hardest to bring down, and they rose again in 2025. This sheet sets out the figures, the main levers for change and the question of climate resilience. It then places the documented positions of Federal Minister Steffen Bilger next to those of his critics, without deciding between them.
Section 01 — emissions
Transport within Germany's total of 648.9 Mt in 2025: about 22.5% (own calculation). Source: Federal Environment Agency (UBA), March 2026.
According to the Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA), transport in Germany emitted 146.3 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2025. That was 2.1 million tonnes, or 1.5%, more than the year before. Germany's total emissions were 648.9 million tonnes.
Almost all transport emissions come from burning fossil fuels in road vehicles: cars, vans and lorries. Rail is largely electric. Domestic aviation and inland shipping make up small shares in national accounting. International flights and shipping are counted separately. The Federal Climate Change Act sets annual limits for each sector, and transport has repeatedly exceeded its limit. A further figure for the 2025 limit seen during research could not be confirmed and is not shown here.
The policy argument, including the Climate Act's targets and how the coalition intends to meet them, is covered on climate and transport. This sheet looks at the transport system itself.
How emissions fall
Each lever below is explained, followed by what is documented from the federal ministry since July 2026. "Documented" means announced or funded, not achieved.
Moving passengers and goods from road to rail, bus, bicycle or ship, which emit far less per tonne or passenger kilometre.
Documented +€84 m for single-wagon rail freight (2026 total up to €384 m). In 2018 Bilger pledged to support shifting freight to rail and waterways.
Capacity, reliability and digitalisation, so that rail can actually take more traffic.
Documented Bonus targets for DB managers linked to punctuality; ERTMS coordination office set up; criticism of the corridor renovations. See rail.
Affordable, frequent local services, organised by the Länder and municipalities and co-financed by the federal government.
Documented Deutschlandticket price set at €66.80 from 2027; Bilger: "still a very attractive offer". See public transport.
Synthetic and renewable fuels for modes that are hard to electrify, above all aviation and shipping.
Documented Joint eSAF auction with Austria and Luxembourg (Germany up to €2 bn); €70 m green inland shipping corridors.
Battery-electric cars, lorries and buses running on renewable electricity, plus the charging networks they need.
Documented ~€1 bn truck fast-charging network moving into delivery; up to €14 m for zero-emission inland vessels.
Lower consumption per trip: better traffic flow, fuller vehicles, lower speeds, digital logistics.
Documented Bilger prefers variable telematic speed limits to a general limit; €25.6 m for airport ground power.
Adaptation
Sustainability is not only about emissions. Transport also has to cope with a changing climate. In August 2026 low water on the Rhine and the Danube restricted inland shipping, and federal and state governments moved cargo to road and rail (see logistics). Dry summers, heavy rain and heat all strain infrastructure designed for past conditions.
The Greens had demanded on 8 August 2026 that the new minister acknowledge the Rhine's low water as a consequence of climate change. Four days later, the ministry's press release on low water quoted Bilger as saying the infrastructure must be adapted to the challenges of climate change.
Aber Resilienz entsteht nicht über Nacht. Deshalb müssen wir weiter in unsere Wasserstraße investieren und die Infrastruktur konsequent an die Herausforderungen des Klimawandels anpassen.
“But resilience doesn't happen overnight. That is why we must keep investing in our waterways and consistently adapt the infrastructure to the challenges of climate change.” (translation)
Steffen Bilger, BMV press release 075/2026, 12 August 2026
Competing considerations
Four points of disagreement, each with Bilger's documented position on one side and documented criticism or opposing argument on the other. Where no named critic was found, that is stated.
Against. Ich bezweifle deshalb, dass es ein großes Potenzial an CO₂-Einsparungen durch ein Tempolimit gäbe
("I therefore doubt that a speed limit would have great potential for CO₂ savings", translation). And: Für die Erreichung der Klimaziele im Verkehr gibt es sinnvollere Wege
("There are more sensible ways of reaching the climate targets in transport", translation). Berliner Morgenpost, 14 September 2026.
The Greens called on him on 8 August 2026 to introduce a speed limit as part of being a "climate minister". The Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) has campaigned for a limit for years. Supporters point out that a limit would cost little and could take effect immediately.
„Technologieoffenheit ist wichtig“ ("Technology openness is important", 2018). In October 2025, as First Parliamentary Secretary, he argued for loosening the EU's 2035 end of new combustion-engine cars, pointing to Germany's role as a car exporter. See future mobility.
Environmental groups have criticised his technology-open and combustion-engine line, according to a 2026 overview of his environmental record. The DUH has clashed with him before: in 2018 his CDU district association put motions to the party conference to strip the organisation of its charitable status. The main counter-argument is that battery-electric drive is far more efficient and that uncertainty delays investment.
Dazu brauchen wir alle Verkehrsträger und müssen sie dort ausbauen, wo sie ihre Stärken haben
("We need all modes and must expand them where they are strong", translation; handover, 29 July 2026). As minister he has pushed both a new Autobahn financing structure and tougher punctuality targets for rail.
The Greens demand clear priority for rail over new Autobahn building. In the budget debate of 8 September 2026 Tarek Al-Wazir (Greens) said no new rail projects could start the following year. Allianz pro Schiene opposed €145 million of cuts to rail freight in the 2027 draft.
The rise to €66.80 from 2027 is nötig, um das Verkehrsangebot beizubehalten
("necessary to maintain the service", translation), and the ticket remains weiterhin ein sehr attraktives Angebot
("still a very attractive offer").
DUH chief Jürgen Resch: „Öffentlicher Nahverkehr ist gesellschaftliche Teilhabe“ ("Public transport is social participation", translation). The consumer federation vzbv warned of an "automated price spiral". Greenpeace calculated a 37% rise since 2023.
Section 05 — assessment
Supporters can point to a busy start. Within ten weeks the ministry put money into rail freight, inland shipping, e-kerosene, truck charging and airport ground power, and Bilger linked waterway investment explicitly to climate adaptation. His approach is to fund cleaner technologies across all modes without restricting how people drive.
Critics see the gaps. Transport emissions are rising, not falling. The minister rejects the one measure, a speed limit, that would act immediately. The 2027 draft budget cuts support for rail freight and long-distance rail. And the Deutschlandticket is becoming more expensive. Both readings rest on documented facts. Which weighs more is a political judgement, and the outcome will show in the UBA's figures for 2026 and 2027. Related controversies are collected on criticism and controversies.