How to reduce net emissions to zero by 2050

The International Energy Agency's (IEA) World Energy Outlook (WEO) was all about the big picture this year: ahead of the start of the COP26 global climate conference in Glasgow, the IEA presented its "Net Zero 2050 Roadmap" on how net emissions can be reduced to zero by 2050 so that the agreed 1.5-degree target is still achieved. The action plan for the 1.5-degree scenario lists ambitious measures. For example, more than 1000 GW of wind power and photovoltaic plants would have to be added annually worldwide from 2030.

As an illustrative example, the report states that, in purely arithmetical terms, it would need a global increase in photovoltaics on the scale of the world's current largest solar park per day – starting immediately. According to IEA calculations, renewable energies must be the main source of energy, accounting for around 70 percent, by 2050. Only about 20 percent of fossil fuels, such as gas, could still be used if offset by carbon capture and utilization. By 2030, global investment in clean energy sources would need to increase to about $4 trillion annually according to the IEA’s Net Zero Roadmap.

You can find the complete report of the IEA here: https://www.iea.org/reports/net-zero-by-2050, last access 11/11/2021 at 9:25 a.m.

Source: pv-magazine (10/21-21): https://www.pv-magazine.de/2021/10/21/iea-net-zero-2050-plan-fuer-cop-26-photovoltaik-und-windkraft-werden-weltgroesste-energiequellen/, last access 11/11/2021 at 9:15 am.