Decarbonisation: A Transition towards Reduced Global Warming

Global warming and climate change are pressing issues of the 21st century. Scientists have researched long-term heating of the earth’s atmosphere due to greenhouse gas emissions and concluded that if global temperature is not limited by 1.5 degrees by 2040, dire consequences are to follow globally (Masson-Delmotte et al., 2018). Widespread negative impacts on ecosystems, people, settlements, and infrastructure have occurred and will continue to happen more frequently and intensely (Portner et al., 2022). Climate change is a long-term challenge, but the urgent need for solutions and actions now is clear.

Decarbonisation is technically the process of reduction of carbon dioxide emissions occurring from human activity in the atmosphere. This desired Climate stabilization can be achieved through decarbonisation routes (Hubler et al., 2013). Decarbonisation mechanisms of utilizing renewable energy, low carbon energy sources and thereby finally eliminating carbon dioxide emissions is the way a transition can be achieved towards reduced global warming.

Decarbonisation can be adopted to allow the transition towards reduced global warming in many ways, such as: - 

Adoption of decarbonisation strategy – Originating in the 2015 Paris Climate agreement to limit global warming below 2 degrees Celsius, the UK has been the first country to adopt a decarbonisation strategy. This has been adopted across the EU and has generated a road map for the EU to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. 

Sector-based decarbonisation – Phasing out fossil fuel sources for energy cannot be accomplished with a one-size-fits-all approach. A sector-based approach has been targeted for decarbonisation in different sectors such as Energy (Heat and Gas), Transport, Industrial sectors, and Agriculture.

Policies and regulations – Countries, businesses, and NGOs will have to approve, support, and endorse policies and regulations supporting decarbonisation. These instruments can interact with the business dynamics and play a key role in affecting the structure of the global economy, favoring the decarb economy (circular economy).

Technologies – Global energy transition from fossil fuel to clean energy solutions can be realized with decarbonisation technologies. Net zero targets can be achieved through energy-efficient technologies, using alternative energy sources, electro-fuels, carbon capture, and long/short-term renewable energy storage.

 References:

1. Hübler, M. and Löschel, A., 2013. The EU decarbonisation roadmap 2050—what way to walk?. Energy Policy, 55, pp.190-207.

2. Masson-Delmotte, V., Zhai, P., Pörtner, H.O., Roberts, D., Skea, J., Shukla, P.R., Pirani, A., Moufouma-Okia, W., Péan, C., Pidcock, R. and Connors, S., 2018. Global warming of 1.5 C. An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of, 1(5).

3. Pörtner, H.O., Roberts, D.C., Adams, H., Adler, C., Aldunce, P., Ali, E., Begum, R.A., Betts, R., Kerr, R.B., Biesbroek, R. and Birkmann, J., 2022. Climate change 2022: Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. IPCC Sixth Assessment Report.

Watch the webinar: Decarbonisation: A Transition Towards Reduced Global Warming