BlogAR6 Report Key Takeaways Part 2
Section 4: Near-term mitigation and adaptation actions
Achieving net-zero CO2 Energy Systems necessitates:
- substantial reduction in overall fossil fuel use
- minimise fossil fuels that are unabated
- integration and availability of Carbon Capture and Storage in the remaining fossil fuel systems
- electricity systems that are free from CO2 or that emit no net CO2
- widespread electrification
- alternative energy carriers in applications less amenable to electrification
- energy conservation and efficiency
- greater integration across the energy system
The following factors contribute to the increased energy reliability and reduction in vulnerabilities to climate change, especially in rural populations:
- Energy generation diversification (e.g., solar, wind, nuclear, hydroelectric, etc.)
- demand side management (DSM) (e.g., storage and energy efficiency improvements)
Below are the aspects that are important to consider and which have high feasibility in the medium to long term:
- Climate-responsive energy markets
- smart-grid technologies
- improved capacity to respond to supply deficits
- updated design standards
- robust transmission systems
Reducing industry emissions necessitates:
- coordinated action throughout value chains to promote all mitigation options
- abatement technologies and transformational changes in production processes
- demand management
- circular material flows
- energy and materials efficiency
The way to decarbonise light industry and manufacturing is through:
- available abatement technologies (e.g., material efficiency, circularity)
- electrification (e.g., electrothermal heating, heat pumps)
- switching to low- and zero-GHG emitting fuels (e.g., hydrogen, ammonia, and bio-based and other synthetic fuels)
while deep reduction of cement process emissions will rely on the following:
- cementitious material substitution
- availability of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) until new chemistries are mastered
Reducing emissions from the production and use of chemicals would need to rely on:
- life cycle approach
- fuel and feedstock switching
- carbon sourced through biogenic sources (what does this mean?)
- increased plastics recycling
- direct air CO2 capture
- Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU)
- Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
Cities, Settlements, and Infrastructure
Deep emissions reductions and integrated adaptation actions are advanced by:
- integrated, inclusive land use planning and decision-making
- compact urban form by co-locating jobs and housing
- reducing or changing urban energy and material consumption
- electrification in combination with low emissions sources
- improved water and waste management infrastructure
- enhancing carbon uptake and storage in the urban environment (e.g. bio-based building materials, permeable surfaces, and urban green and blue infrastructure)
Mitigation interventions for buildings include:
At the construction phase:
- low-emission construction materials
- highly efficient building envelope and the integration of renewable energy solutions
At the use phase:
- highly efficient appliances/equipment
- the optimisation of the use of buildings and their supply with low-emission energy sources
At the disposal phase:
- recycling and re-using construction materials.
Transport-related GHG emissions can be reduced by
- demand-side options and low-GHG emissions technologies
- changes in urban form
- reallocation of street space for cycling and walking
- digitalisation (e.g., teleworking)
- programs that encourage changes in consumer behaviour (e.g. transport, pricing)
- shift to more energy-efficient transport modes
Electric vehicles (EVs) powered by low-emissions electricity offer the largest decarbonisation potential for land-based transport.
The environmental footprint of battery production and growing concerns about critical minerals can be addressed by
- material and supply diversification strategies
- energy and material efficiency improvements
- circular material flows (can potentially expand this)
Advances in battery technologies could facilitate the electrification of heavy-duty trucks and complement conventional electric rail systems
Green/natural and blue infrastructure such as
- urban forestry
- green roofs
- ponds and lakes
- river restoration
can mitigate climate change through
- carbon uptake and storage
- avoided emissions
- reduced energy use
while reducing risk from extreme events such as heatwaves, heavy precipitation, and droughts, and advancing co-benefits for health, well-being, and livelihoods. Urban greening can provide local cooling.
Land, Ocean, Food, and Water
Conservation, improved management, and restoration of forests and other ecosystems offer the largest share of economic mitigation potential, with reduced deforestation in tropical regions having the highest total mitigation potential. Ecosystem restoration, reforestation, and afforestation can lead to trade-offs due to competing demands on land.
Effective adaptation options include
- cultivar improvements
- agroforestry
- community-based adaptation
- farm and landscape diversification
- urban agriculture
Health and Nutrition
Human health will benefit from integrated mitigation and adaptation options that mainstream health into
- food
- infrastructure
- social protection
- water policies
Public health policies to improve nutrition, such as
- increasing the diversity of food sources in public procurement
- promoting balanced and sustainable healthy diets
- health insurance
- financial incentives
- awareness-raising campaigns
can potentially influence food demand, reduce food waste, reduce healthcare costs, contribute to lower GHG emissions, and enhance adaptive capacity
Improved access to clean energy sources and technologies, and shifts to active mobility (e.g., walking and cycling) and public transport can deliver
- socioeconomic
- air quality
- health benefits
Governance and Policy for Near-Term Climate Change Action
Climate governance plays a vital role in enabling mitigation and adaptation. This is achieved by:
- providing overall direction
- setting targets and priorities
- making climate action mainstream across policy domains and levels
Effective governance enhances monitoring and evaluation and regulatory certainty, prioritising inclusive, transparent and equitable decision-making, and improves access to finance and technology.
Finance for Mitigation and Adaptation Actions
Both adaptation and mitigation finance need to increase many-fold, to address rising climate risks and to accelerate investments in emissions reduction
International Cooperation and Coordination
Climate resilient development is enabled by increased international cooperation including mobilising and enhancing access to finance, particularly for developing countries, vulnerable regions, sectors and groups and aligning finance flows for climate action to be consistent with ambition levels and funding needs.
The transboundary nature of many climate change risks (e.g., for supply chains, markets and natural resource flows in food, fisheries, energy and water, and potential for conflict) increases the need for climate-informed transboundary management, cooperation, responses, and solutions through multi-national or regional governance processes (high confidence)
Technology Innovation, Adoption, Diffusion and Transfer
Support for successful low-carbon technological innovation includes public policies such as
- training and research & development (R&D)
complemented by regulatory and market-based instruments that create incentives and market opportunities such as
- appliance performance standards and building codes
Global diffusion and alignment of mitigation technologies, practices, and policies with other development objectives can be accelerated through:
- international cooperation on innovation systems and technology development and transfer
- capacity building
- knowledge sharing
- technical and financial support