Reduced CO2 Emissions in Germany through Ticket Shifting: Costs in the double digits per tonne

In the heart of Potsdam, the Kopernikus Project Ariadne has published a series of reports in 2025, shedding light on the effects of the Germany Ticket, a revolutionary initiative introduced in May 2023. The reports, authored by a team of experts including Nicolas Koch, Maximilian Amberg, Andreas Kraemer, Gerd Wilger, Robert Bongaerts, Niklas Illenseer, and Katja Treichel-Grass, provide comprehensive insights into the impact of the Germany Ticket on mobility, emissions, and welfare.

The Germany Ticket, a monthly pass that allows unlimited travel on all public transportation networks in Germany, has led to a significant shift in traffic. Estimates suggest that between 12 to 16 percent of all trips in the country are now made using the Germany Ticket. This shift from cars to public transportation has resulted in a reduction of CO emissions, with the studies considering a range of 4.2 to 6.5 million tons per year.

The reports also highlight the substantial social benefits associated with the Germany Ticket. By avoiding climate damages and other environmental impacts, the Germany Ticket generates a welfare gain of at least 3 billion euros per year, amounting to 2.4 to 3.7 billion euros in avoided costs for each reduced ton of CO.

Despite these positive outcomes, the challenge remains to stabilise the effect of the Germany Ticket in the long term. The reports emphasise that flanking measures are necessary to maintain its positive impacts.

Both reports, titled "Fact Check Germany Ticket: A Review of the Empirical Evidence" and "Effect of the Germany Ticket on Mobility and Emissions", can be read online and downloaded as PDFs. It's worth noting that there are no search results listing the authors involved in the 2025 report "Fact Check Germany Ticket: A Review of the Empirical Evidence" of the Kopernikus Project Ariadne.

Interestingly, the Germany Ticket does not generate significant additional mobility but contributes to the shift in traffic. The majority of Germany Ticket holders are people who previously used public transportation rarely or occasionally.

In conclusion, the reports published by the Kopernikus Project Ariadne provide valuable insights into the impact of the Germany Ticket on mobility, emissions, and welfare. While the initiative has shown promising results, it's clear that further flanking measures are needed to ensure its long-term success.