Exploration of pathways towards climate neutrality 2050
In order to become climate-neutral by 2050, substantial changes are needed in both electricity and heating and in the production and use of fuels and raw materials. In more concrete terms, this means saving more energy as well as producing more electricity through CO2-free sources such as solar, wind, and nuclear energy. This study, ‘Exploration of pathways towards climate neutrality 2050’, particularly explores the period after 2030. We define the term ‘climate neutrality’ as net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the Netherlands, which also includes bunker fuels consumed within the country for international aviation and shipping. Residual greenhouse gas emissions in 2050 will be offset by negative emissions within the Netherlands itself.
Not either/or, but both/and
Electricity from CO2-free sources must be deployed on a large scale to replace fossil fuels. Use of local heat sources needs to increase. Sustainable bio-resources and green hydrogen, moreover, should also be deployed efficiently and on a large scale.
The capacity of CO2-capture and storage (CCS) must be increased and more widely utilised. Additionally, changes are needed in agriculture and rural areas. It is not a case of either/or, but of both/and; excluding or seriously limiting any of these emission reduction options will make achieving climate neutrality by 2050 more expensive or even impossible.
Premises and scope
The premise of this analysis was to shape pathways towards climate neutrality at the lowest national cost – the balance of direct financial costs and benefits from a national perspective- for the period 2030-2050. For the purpose of this study, we assume an economic structure that does not fundamentally change over time. However, we do incorporate changes directly resulting from a transition to a climate-neutral society, such as changes in fuel production.
Energy, money, and a reduction in greenhouse gases all play a significant role in the transition to climate neutrality, but so do other aspects, including the use of scarce space, the availability and use of critical raw materials, the availability of the labour force, the distribution of benefits and burdens, and the behaviour of consumers, businesses, and governments. While these are not extensively covered in this study, this report can nonetheless form the basis for future studies that do delve into these topics.
Authors
Specifications
- Publication title
- Exploration of pathways towards climate neutrality 2050
- Publication subtitle
- Pathways towards a climate-neutral society for the Netherlands in 2050
- Publication date
- 17 July 2024
- Publication type
- Report
- Page count
- 44
- Publication language
- English
- Product number
- 5535
