IEA’s Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy System

Hello everyone!

Today, we are going to discuss the Net Zero Emissions (NZE) Roadmap which was recently released by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The roadmap is released with the name ‘Net Zero by 2050’. In this blog, we will cover all the important points of this report. But before talking specifically about the report, let’s talk a little about Net Zero Emissions. 

Net Zero Emissions: Definition

• ‘Net zero emissions’ refers to achieving an overall balance between greenhouse gas emissions produced and greenhouse gas emissions taken out of the atmosphere.
• Net Zero carbon emissions are often mistaken as carbon neutrality. 
• In other words, it simply means that the emissions produced by several human activities must be decreased as close to zero. 
• Absorption of the emissions can be increased by creating more carbon sinks such as forests

Now you might have got an idea of what Net Zero Emission means. Let’s move to the main part of this blog i.e. Net Zero Emissions (NZE) Roadmap.

Highlights of IEA’s Net Zero Emissions (NZE) Roadmap

It is the World’s first comprehensive energy roadmap which provides for a global pathway to net‐zero emissions by 2050. The report is addressing the issue of global CO2 emissions which cause an increase in average global temperatures by 1.5 °C.

The main objectives of this roadmap are:

• To examine the impacts of announced NZE pledges and what they might mean for the energy sector.
• To develop a new energy-sector pathway towards achieving NZE globally by 2050.
• To devise policy recommendations for governments to act upon in the short-term and a long-term agenda for achieving net-zero goals.

Principles to be followed to achieve ‘Net Zero by 2050’

• The roadmap calls for following the principle of Technology neutrality. Technology neutrality, with adoption driven by costs, technological readiness, country and market conditions and trade-offs with wider societal goals. Technology neutrality is the freedom of individuals and organizations to choose the most appropriate technology adequate to their:  

• Needs and requirements for development
• Acquisition,
• Use or commercialization, 
• Without knowledge dependencies involved as information or data.

• The roadmap also calls for Universal international cooperation. Countries contribute to net zero, with an eye to a ‘just transition’ and where advanced economies lead.
• Lastly, it calls for Minimizing Volatility. An orderly transition that seeks to minimize stranded assets where possible, while ensuring energy security and minimizing volatility in energy markets.

Targets of the Net Zero Emissions (NZE) Roadmap

The report mentions more than 400 milestones to guide the global journey to net zero by 2050 which include:

• No investment in new fossil fuel supply projects, and no further final investment decisions for new unabated coal plants.
• No sales of new internal combustion engine passenger cars by 2035.
• The global electricity sector should reach net-zero emissions by 2040.
• It calls for annual additions of solar power to reach 630 gigawatts by 2030, and those of wind power to reach 390 gigawatts.
• It suggests 714% more renewables, 104% more nuclear, 93% less coal and 85% less natural gas for global electricity generation towards 2050.

So these were the important aspects of the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions (NZE) Roadmap. Moving on, let’s’ have a look at the International Energy Agency.

International Energy Agency (IEA): Important facts

• The International Energy Agency is an autonomous intergovernmental organization, headquartered in Paris.
• It was established in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis.
• Its mission is guided by three main focus areas i.e. economic development, energy security and environmental protection. These are also known as the 3 E’s of IEA.
• It has 30 members at present. The IEA family also includes eight association countries. India became an Associate member of IEA in March 2017.
• IEA is best known for the publication of its annual World Energy Outlook.
• Other Reports published by IEA: 1. Global Energy & CO2 Status Report.

                                                     2. World Energy Statistics.

                                                     3. World Energy Balances.

                                                     4. Energy Technology Perspectives.

The last part of this blog will focus on India’s position with respect to Net Zero Emissions. It will help you understand the status and stance of India on the Net Zero Emissions.

India’s Position with respect to Net Zero Emissions

India is the world’s third-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, after the US and China. India is the only one opposing this target because it is likely to be the most impacted by it. Over the next 2-3 decades, India’s emissions are likely to grow at the fastest pace. The reason for this is it presses for higher growth to pull hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. No amount of afforestation or reforestation would be able to compensate for the increased emissions. India put forth the following objections against the Net Zero Emissions:

• Most of the carbon removal technologies right now are either unreliable or very expensive.
• The net zero goals are not part of Paris Climate Change Agreement 2015. India has recommended following commitments under the pact rather than bringing a new one.
• India points out that developed countries have not delivered on their promises of achieving their climate goals. They have also not provided the funding and technology support for developing and poor countries.
• India is the only G 20 country that is in line to achieve its targets to keep temperatures below 2 degrees pre-industrial level.
• There is a possibility that India will achieve net zero by 2050-2060 but it does not want to make an international commitment so much in advance.

So these were the major challenges due to which India is opposing the Net Zero Emissions. 

We have covered all the major points about the Net Zero Emissions (NZE) Roadmap released by the International Energy Agency (IEA). In addition, we have also talked about India’s position with respect to Net Zero Emissions. We hope that you have gained some important insights after reading this blog. 

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