Net zero

The number of countries announcing pledges to achieve net zero emissions over the coming decades continues to grow. But the pledges by governments to date – even if fully achieved – fall well short of what is required to bring global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions to net zero by 2050 and give the world an even chance of limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5 °C. This special report is the world’s first comprehensive study of how to transition to a net zero energy system by 2050 while ensuring stable and affordable energy supplies, providing universal energy access, and enabling robust economic growth. It sets out a cost-effective and economically productive pathway, resulting in a clean, dynamic and resilient energy economy dominated by renewables like solar and wind instead of fossil fuels. The report also examines key uncertainties, such as the roles of bioenergy, carbon capture and behavioural changes in reaching net zero. • Summary for Policy Makers (English) Download "Summary for Policy Makers (English)" • Summary for Policy Makers (Italian) Download "Summary for Policy Makers (Italian)" • Launch presentation Download "Launch presentation" • Full report (Chinese) Download "Full report (Chinese)" • Full report (Polish) Download "Full report (Polish)" • The need for net zero demonstration projects Download "The need for net zero demonstration projects"

• Climate Central’s Program on Sea Level Rise strives to provide accurate, clear and granular information about sea level rise and coastal flood hazards both locally and globally, today and tomorrow. • Climate Matters is a reporting resource program that helps meteorologists and journalists report on climate impacts and solutions in ways that are local, immediate, and personal — grounded in the latest science. • Climate Central's Partnership Journalism program collaborates with local newsrooms nationwide, including print, radio, digital and TV outlets. • Revealing the realtime fingerprints of climate change on local weather Net Zero: Future Net Zero: Budget KEY CONCEPTS • The term “net zero” means that any greenhouse gas emissions released are balanced by an equal amount being taken out of the atmosphere. • The Paris Climate Agreement created goals to • Core areas of the U.S. economy—transportation, electricity, industry, agriculture, and commercial and residential buildings—need to undergo major transformation in order to get to net zero. • Most of the pathways to keeping global temperature increases below 2°C— Read Climate Matters’ new solutions brief on getting to net zero. SOLUTIONS BRIEF The planet needs to go on a carbon diet. Our current catastrophes—devastating wildfires, stronger hurricanes, and rising seas—are consistent with the warnings scientists made in the 1980s and 1990s. Past burning of fossil fuels, including oil, coal, and natural gas, has released green...

Recent Examples on the Web While record solar and wind production have helped drive out coal and gas plants at an impressive rate this year, the EU still has a long way to go to reach its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. — William Mathis, Fortune, 3 June 2023 The plan to fly an all-electric flight comes as SAS has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. — Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 2 June 2023 Advocates say net-zero buildings don’t have to cost any more than conventional construction. — Sabrina Shankman, BostonGlobe.com, 1 June 2023 Not long after, Amazon publicly committed to goals regarding renewable energy and net-zero carbon emissions known as the Climate Pledge. — Caroline O'donovan, Anchorage Daily News, 31 May 2023 By 2030, the globe needs to have more than 5,000 gigawatts of solar capacity to be on track to reach net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050, up from around 885 gigawatts in 2021, according to the International Energy Agency. — Dieter Holger, WSJ, 31 May 2023 China is still likely on track to meet its goals of peaking its emissions before 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2060. — Christian Shepherd, Washington Post, 30 May 2023 Their net-zero aspirations only apply to less than 10 percent of the company’s carbon footprint–the upstream emissions that are produced from the production and transport of gas and oil. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 May 2023 Colorado is now legally committed to net-zero climate pollution by 2050, un...