Supporting policymakers to make informed decisions towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement.
Climate models indicate that current national actions and international climate targets set in the Paris Agreement and COP26 fall short of delivering carbon neutrality and limiting global warming to 1.5 – 2°C.
Only bold, immediate, and sustained action can decarbonize energy before it is too late. International cooperation is essential to support all countries in the UNECE region to build resilience of the energy system and to accelerate the energy transition.
Action must start now to maximize the use of all low- and zero-carbon technologies to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Diversify primary and final energy supply
Accelerate phase-out of unabated fossil fuels
Electrify all sectors through renewable energy and nuclear power
Scale-up innovative low- and zero-carbon technologies
Innovation and digitalization enable energy systems that are efficient, resilient, and capable of delivering a net-zero region. Sustainable innovative solutions, such as CCUS, hydrogen and the advanced nuclear power, must be scaled-up to match traditional technologies’ cost and technical competitiveness through technological advances, economies of scale, and closer alignment with market demand.
Life cycle assessment studies show that there is not a completely carbon-neutral energy solution.
Life cycle assesments compare technologies on the basis of lifetime environmental impact from those with the lowest carbon footprint to those that require significant carbon capture and storage to be carbon neutral.
All technologies require materials and high-temperature processes that result in carbon dioxide emissions. Renewable energy solutions require steel, cement, and silicon. Electric vehicles and grids require rare earth metals in batteries. Hydrogen could leak into the atmosphere and have a negative impact. Energy investments may mean increased emissions today that will save emissions in the future.
Energy intensive industries need innovative low- and zero-carbon technologies. Energy Intensive Industries must:
Nuclear power is an important source of low-carbon electricity and heat that contributes to attaining carbon neut rality.
Decarbonizing energy is a significant undertaking that requires the use of all available low-carbon technologies. The world’s climate objectives will not be met if nuclear technologies are excluded.
Beyond existing large-scale nuclear reactors, nuclear power continues to evolve. In future, new innovations such as small modular reactors (SMRs) could provide electricity for small grids or remote locations and will improve the integration of variable renewable energy sources.
Hydrogen is a bulk chemical that is used primarily today in petroleum refining and in the production of ammonia (for fertilisers) and methanol. Hydrogen is already used a chemical feedstock, for example for ammonia used in fertilisers or in hydrocarbons used for plastics.
In the future, hydrogen can be used as an energy carrier and energy storage medium. It has vast, viable applications across a range of sectors that need to be decarbonized, such as transport, industry, power generation and heat for buildings.
Hydrogen can decarbonize energy intensive industries and long-haul transport where electrification is only partially possible, or the technology does not yet exist. A rapid shift to a “hydrogen ecosystem” will require swift and extensive expansion of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production.
Carbon capture, use, and storage (CCUS) is the process of capturing carbon dioxide emissions from fossil power generation and industrial processes for storage deep underground or re-use.
UNECE countries need to deploy zero- and negative-carbon technologies to capture 90Gt of carbon dioxide by 2050.
Carbon neutrality will require rapid deployment of carbon capture, use, and storage (CCUS) technologies to bridge the gap until innovative, next generation low-, zero-, or negative-carbon technologies are commercialized.
UNECE Framework for Building Resilient Energy Systems maps actions to achieve
greater energy security, affordability and environmental sustainability.
UNECE has developed various publications on carbon neutrality including technology and policy briefs to achieve greater energy security, affordability and reach net-zero targets in the UNECE region.
International climate objectives will not be met if nuclear power is excluded, according to UNECE report.
Hydrogen can help decarbonize the economy, through massive investments and appropriate policy support, according to UNECE report.
Carbon capture, use and storage is needed urgently to meet carbon neutrality targets, according to UNECE report.
Renewables could power almost 80% of Ukraine's economy by 2050, says UNECE report.
Carbon neutrality by 2050 is still achievable despite energy crisis, according to UNECE report.
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Carbon neutrality by 2050 is still achievable despite energy crisis, according to UNECE report.
Summary
Record growth in renewables, but world missed historic chance for a clean energy recovery, says REN21 report.
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Countries’ energy decisions should take into account the comparative carbon impact over the entire life cycle of all generation technologies and supporting infrastructure.
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Countries in the eastern UNECE region can play a leading role in carbon dioxide storage, according to UNECE study.
UNECE’s assessment looks at transition towards low-carbon development and establishing a hydrogen economy in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Energy crisis shows need to build resilient energy systems.
UNECE report shows pathways to carbon-neutrality in “energy intensive” steel, chemicals and cement industries
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