A lot of the technological solutions companies need to significantly reduce emissions are already available. But understanding this for each business depending on where emissions are created and the national or global context, will affect what pathways are available and/or needed. As a non-executive director, understanding the opportunities your business has, the investment needed, and the barriers it may face will inform a robust decarbonisation plan.
On this page:
Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector
Decarbonising energy is a large part of reducing global emissions. To help understand how we could decarbonise the global economy in just three decades, read the International Energy Agency’s special report.
The role of the board, energy transition and the harder-to-abate sectors: Emily Farnworth in conversation with Adair Turner
Read the highlights or watch our event where Lord Adair Turner explored the role of non-executive directors in driving the low carbon transition, covering the practical, immediate steps that companies can take.
The Energy Transitions Commission has a range of reports to help understand the changing energy landscape, including:
Making Clean Electrification Possible
30 years to electrify the global economy. Learn why it is essential, feasible and affordable to multiply the size of the global power system by five, while shifting to renewables.
Making the Hydrogen Economy Possible
Explore the role of clean hydrogen in achieving a highly electrified net-zero economy.
Making Mission Possible: Delivering a Net-Zero Economy
Clean electrification will be the primary route to decarbonisation, complemented by hydrogen, sustainable biomass and fossil fuels combined with carbon capture.
Electricity could represent up to 70% of final energy demand by 2050, versus 20% today
Source: Energy Transitions Commission
Many of the current approaches to offsetting are unlikely to deliver what is needed to achieve climate goals. Read The Oxford Principles for Net Zero Aligned Carbon Offsetting by the University of Oxford for guidelines to help ensure offsetting actually helps to move us to a net zero society.
Carbon capture, use and storage can also have a part to play. The key will be technology and regulation.
Exploring the role of carbon offsetting in the transition to net zero
Watch our webinar to explore the following, including a NED perspective:
- The fundamental principles of carbon offsetting
- Their role in global decarbonisation
- Growing voluntary carbon markets
- The challenges of choosing carbon credits
The slides from the event are here.
Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets
The Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets (TSVCM) is a private sector-led initiative working to scale an effective and efficient voluntary carbon market to help meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. Read their full report to learn about the TSVCM framework and Core Carbon Principles.
How can organisations achieve breakthrough innovation?
Three steps companies can take to achieve the breakthrough innovation required to deliver the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals including Goal 13 – Climate Action.
Design cost-effective, carbon-abated products with resource cleansheets
A powerful avenue for pursuing sustainability is embedding it into product design, which can determine up to 80% of the future carbon footprint. By integrating cost and carbon-emission analysis, a new methodology called “resource cleansheeting” makes it possible.
Mission possible: The 2020 report
Read this Edie report to explore how a green recovery from Covid-19 can be achieved across six of the UK’s biggest industries: Utilities, manufacturing, construction, retail, hospitality & leisure, and the public sector.