Climate neutrality, i.e. a balance between possible carbon emissions or further climate-relevant emissions and the sequestration of such emissions, is one of the major socio-political goals of our time.

The European Union is committed to a very ambitious climate protection policy. With the help of the “Green Deal”, Europe is to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, i.e. one that binds as many CO₂ emissions as it produces. The goal is anchored in the new EU climate law, which must be passed by Parliament and Council. It also aims to decisively increase the EU’s interim target of a 40 percent emissions reduction by 2030.

On 7 October 2020, the Parliament voted in favour of the 2050 climate neutrality target and an EU emissions reduction target of 60 percent by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels). The Commission spoke of 55 percent in its proposal. MEPs also asked the Commission to set an additional interim target for 2040 to secure the implementation of the 2050 target.

In this context, it should be pointed out for our industry that the power supply sector can already point to considerable successes in this respect. As one example, the climate targets of -40 percent set for Germany for 2020 were already achieved in 2019 – in the Corona year 2020, the reduction was even 53 percent. In addition, it should also be taken into account that the power sector has to cope with a comparatively higher reduction target of 40 percent, compared to 30 percent for the other sectors of transport, industry, buildings and agriculture. Other EU member states such as Denmark, France and Austria can point to a successful strategy in this respect, in part for decades, due to the low-emission generation structure of the energy supply companies.

But climate protection must be thought of globally.

To this end, the International Energy Agency – IEA has now published a flagship report entitled „Net Zero by 2050“.

This world’s first comprehensive energy roadmap shows that government action to rapidly promote clean energy and reduce fossil fuel consumption can create millions of jobs, boost economic growth and realistically achieve climate neutrality.

For the status quo, the IEA notes that government commitments to climate action to date – even if fully achieved – fall far short of what is needed to reduce global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions to net zero by 2050.

The report is the world’s first comprehensive study of how the transition to a net-zero energy system by 2050 can be achieved while maintaining stable and affordable energy supplies, universal access to energy and robust economic growth.

The IEA report also recognises the key role of technology and innovation. Most of the global carbon dioxide reduction by 2030 on the net-zero path comes from technologies available today. But by 2050, almost half of the reductions would come from technologies that are only in the demonstration or pilot phase today. This will require increased efforts by governments in spending on research and development and on the demonstration and deployment of zero- or low-emission energy technologies. Advances in new battery technologies, electrolysers for hydrogen and direct air capture and storage can be particularly effective.

Technology points the way to the future and is the future. This is also an appeal from our industry to promote and appreciate the diverse and broad commitment!