the restructuring of the economy after reunification contributed to the decline in energy use notably the collapse of inefficient firms in east germany after oecd carbon emissions were reduced by the switch from petrol to diesel cars and from heating oil to natural gas which are less carbon intensive destatis higher energy prices as well as european and national environmental policies such as the implementation of the eco tax and energy standards in the automotive sector also played a role by creating incentives for energy savings oecd a in terms of emissions per capita or relative to the gdp level germany is below the oecd average but above the eu average figure upper panel and table when excluding emissions from electricity and heat production germany is the third lowest emitter in the oecd on a per gdp unit basis