The State of Climate Action 2023: Insights, Gaps, and Promising Initiatives

Overview: 

The World Resources Institute recently published, “The State of Climate Action 2023”. This report provided insight into a roadmap that the world can follow to reach the agreed-upon 1.5℃ degree target in each high-impact area of the market. It points out that 41 of 42 provisions are not on track to meet necessary limits by 2030; however, the report still features examples of positivity that feature inspirational instances of progress. It provides a roadmap to limit 85% of global GHG emissions from the power, industry, transport, buildings, forest , and agriculture sectors.

Source: World Resources Institute

Insights from the power sector

In 2022, CO2 emissions from electricity reached a record high. However, accelerated growth in renewable energy installation suggests that the power sector emissions may have peaked this past year. Continued dedication to increasing the availability of solar and wind energy has succeeded, as solar photovoltaics and onshore wind are now the cheapest sources of energy generation and it accounted for 80% of all global electricity demand growth in 2022! Some of the fastest-growing countries in consumption are in developing countries such as; Namibia, Uruguay, Palestine, and Jordan- the growth of renewable energy is helping to promote energy security and stability. However, as select countries have grown in renewable energy generation, others still are increasing their use of fossil fuel generation. China, India, Indonesia, and Bangladesh recently built new coal power plants for the future. To meet GHG emission reduction plans, these plants must be phased out by 2040 and these countries must stop increasing their use of fossil fuels and begin planning for reduction. Even though overall progress is lacking, promising examples highlight the progress renewable energy has made. 

Source: Border States

Insights from the Buildings Sector

After rising consistently for the past three decades since the 1990s, emissions from buildings have stabilized since 2018. Further decarbonization requires increasing energy efficiency within buildings, retrofitting existing buildings, and ensuring new buildings are required to meet zero-carbon standards. Recent requirements within building regulations, especially in the European Union, have spurred progress toward emission targets. An example of rapidly growing energy efficiency technology is the use of heat pumps which has increased 38% in Europe and 11% globally. More governments establishing energy efficiency technology improvements will catalyze decarbonization in the building sector.

Insights from the Industry Sector

Total GHG emissions have increased faster than any other sector since 2000. Transitioning this sector to meet 1.5℃ targets requires reducing the need for new industrial productions by fostering a circular economy, reducing the need for consumption, improving energy efficiency across industrial factories, and electrifying industrial processes used in supply chains. Adding in developing technologies such as carbon capture utilization and carbon countries with large cement manufacturing industries announced the establishment of a carbon market scheme for aluminum, petroleum, and cement manufactures, bringing a promising future. Even though industry indicators are not on track to meet goals, increased investment in industrial decarbonization and new supportive targeted policies bring optimism for the future.

Insights from the Transport Sector

The transport sector - which includes road, rail, sea, and air travel is the second fastest growing source of GHG emissions. Decarbonizing this sector involves bringing jobs, goods, and services closer to where people are centered to avoid motorized travel. Convergently, societies must shift away from reliance on vehicles altogether by focusing on shared transport modes - walking, public transportation, and cycling. Electric vehicle usage must also phase out combustion engines to reserve emission capacity for modes of transport that cannot be as easily electrified, such as shipping and aviation. There are bright lights within this industry as the share of electric vehicles in light-duty categories is on track to meet 1.5℃ degree targets as range, affordability, and charging infrastructure improves. Attention toward developing two/three wheelers has increased in the past 5 years as subsidies and demand jumped supply. High growth has occurred in China and India and recently Columbia added over 84 KM of new bike lanes. These divestments away from motorized transports will everso reduce emissions and promote sustainable transportation as this industry desperately needs. 

Source: Planetizen

Insights from the Forests and Land Sector

The forest and land sector is the only sector that acts as both a source and sink of GHGs. Despite the obvious benefits of building resilience toward land-based mitigation and improving ecosystem biodiversity, our society has fallen short of meeting 1.5℃  ambition targets for 2030 and 2050. One method of improving this possibility is to protect the high-carbon ecosystems that are currently under threat. The world forests, peatlands, and mangroves hold over 1,000 Gigatons of Carbon. Deforestation and mangrove loss have occurred at an unprecedented rate, which is deeply concerning. To stay aligned with 1.5℃  targets, society must restore 100% of the forest as well as 15 Mha of peatlands, and 240,000 acres of mangroves. More than 140 countries have pledged to halt and even reverse forest loss, however, there has been little progress toward these goals.

Insights from the Food and Agriculture Sector

As the world population continues to grow to nearly 10 billion by 2050, the agricultural sector projects to be the most emission-intensive sector. To stay on track with the Paris Agreement, the agricultural must redshift its system to address its gaps in sustainability. This includes halving food waste, reducing consumption of red meat, reducing deforestation, and halting farmers into high-carbon/biodiverse ecosystems will ensure long-term agricultural productivity. Although global efforts to mitigate GHG emissions are lagging behind the pace needed to keep on track with goals, cities have pledged to shift towards dietary and food waste reduction. Initiatives like the C40 Cities Good Food Cities Accelerator show promise. Additionally, the Glasgow Leader’s Declaration on Forests and Land Use and the Global Methane pledges, all announced within the last year show global support toward the agricultural revolution is increasing.

In conclusion, the "State of Climate Action 2023" report presents a sobering yet hopeful overview of the world's progress towards achieving the crucial 1.5°C target. While the findings reveal that the majority of sectors are not on track to meet the necessary limits by 2030, there are glimpses of optimism scattered throughout.

Sources:

https://www.planetizen.com/news/2020/08/110180-bogot-commits-bicycle

https://solutions.borderstates.com/trends-in-the-electric-power-sector/

https://www.wri.org/research/state-climate-action-2023?utm_medium=email&utm_source=publication&utm_campaign=soca