far greater need to use renewable energy in key sectors. Delaying the nuclear energy phase out would considerably increase the economically viable reduction potential (an additional reduction of 90 million tonnes of CO2 until 2020) and would greatly decrease the average abatement costs. Between 1990 and 2004, Germany reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by some 17%, from 1232 million tonnes to 1025 million tonnes CO2 equivalent (CO2e). Emissions from the energy sector fell from 397 million to 359 million tonnes CO2e during this period. The BDI said it hopes the report will "lay a foundation stone for a process of increased cooperation between the federal government and society". It said it intends to produce a "revised edition" of the study which will evaluate progress made on implementing current findings. Nuclear power plants generate about one third of Germany's electricity, but a coalition government formed after the 1998 federal election made the policy of phasing out nuclear energy under Green environment minister Jurgen Trittin. Currently, under a 2000 compromise, the operational lives of German power reactors are limited to an average of 32 years, although operators can apply to transfer generation time from lesser to more efficient plants. Two reactors have already been shut down early, and although some generation time has been passed from older to newer plants for economic reasons, the agreement would eventually see all reactors shut down by 2015. Many similar power reactors in other countries are licensed to safely operate for up to 60 years. Now,