Decarbonization

• [New] The EU, seeking steeper emissions reductions to meet its new 2030 climate targets, will propose to expand and reform its ETS from 2021.
• [New] Sustainable Aviation, a UK industry group, has set out a road map to net zero emissions that allows for a 70% growth in passengers by 2050 and relies heavily on buying carbon offsets elsewhere.
• [New] The G20 final communique will promote economic growth, protect the world against climate change and revive the circular carbon economy at the onset of 2021.
• [New] Unified G20 stances on climate change coupled with the EU's staunch support for green and sustainable recovery, and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals will likely boost the growth of a carbon circular economy and ensure the future of global trade.
• [New] The Maryland Commission on Climate Change Annual Report endorses achieving net-zero emissions by 2045, and phasing out coal-fired power plants by 2030.
• [New] COVAX has already engaged 186 countries worldwide - including all 47 countries in the African Region - and aims to deliver 2 billion doses globally for high-risk populations by the end of 2021, including 1 billion doses for low and middle-income countries.
• [New] Swedish iron ore producer LKAB has announced plans to replace its iron ore pellets with sponge iron produced using green hydrogen as part of a strategy to achieve net-zero carbon emissions from processes by 2045.
• [New] In other parts of the world, China is aiming for its carbon dioxide emissions to peak before 2030 and then to move to carbon neutrality by 2060.
• [New] Greenhouse gas concentrations climbed to a new record in 2019 and rose again in 2020 despite an expected drop in emissions due to COVID-19 lockdowns.
• [New] China needs to immediately halt construction of new coal-fired power plants and aim for a 200 yuan per tonne price of carbon in its emissions trading scheme to get on track to meeting its target of reaching net zero emissions by 2060.
• [New] Enbridge, citing a recent pledge to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, said it has broken ground on a second solar facility to help power natural gas pipeline compressor stations.
• [New] The Merkur wind farm will help Germany to meet its 2030 target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% against 1990 levels.
• [New] Bill C-12, if passed, would require the federal environment minister to set five-year targets for cutting carbon emissions starting in 2030, and ending in 2050, when Canada is supposed to hit net-zero.
• [New] The European Union, Japan, and the Republic of Korea have pledged carbon neutrality by 2050, along with more than 110 other countries.
• [New] The Trudeau government tabled a bill on Thursday that, if enacted, would legally bind Canada to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
• [New] Poland was willing to contribute to EU efforts to slash greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 but called for EU support, especially for poorer and coal-reliant countries, to allow for a higher 2030 goal.
• [New] The world's top diplomat stressed the need for every country, city, financial institution and company to adopt plans for transitioning to net zero emissions by 2050.
• [New] By early 2021, countries representing more than 65% of global carbon dioxide emissions and more than 70% of the world economy will have made ambitious commitments to carbon neutrality.
• [New] China has recently announced its commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 - a major shift from the largest national emitter.
• [New] While France has committed itself to reducing its emissions by 40% in 2030 compared to 1990 levels, it has, in recent years, regularly exceeded the 'carbon budgets' it had set itself.
• [New] Offshore renewable energy is one of the most promising routes to increase future power generation in the coming years in a way that meets Europe's decarbonisation objectives and expected rise in electricity demand in an affordable manner.
• Use of LNG will help India in meeting its commitment made under the Paris accord to cut greenhouse gas emission intensity of its gross domestic product by 33% to 35% below 2005 levels by 2030.

Last updated: 29 November 2020