Climate-friendly living? Since 2000, household emissions per inhabitant have fallen by more than half.

In the same period, the resident population grew from about 7.2 to 8.9 million inhabitants (+24%). Household-related emissions per inhabitant thus decreased by 54% (from 1,505 to 694 kg CO₂eq per capita). In 2023, the public approved the Federal Act on Climate Protection Targets, Innovation, and Strengthening Energy Security, which aims to reduce emissions in the building sector by 82% by 2040 compared to 1990. The "building" category includes the areas of households, the service sector, and industry. From 1990 to 2023, emissions for the entire building sector fell by 40%. Per energy reference area (see notes), i.e., the sum of heated or air-conditioned areas of all buildings, emissions even fell by 59 percent. ‍