The programme at COP 26 shifts today to focus on energy, in particular coal.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have constantly identified the energy supply sector as being the largest contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for around 35%. The path to net-zero requires an overhaul of the global power sector, with the phasing out of fossil fuels and a clean energy expansion. 

The phasing out of fossil-fuels must be done in a way that supports employment and the economy. The decommissioning of unabated fossil-fuel power plants should be done in conjunction with rapid deployment of renewable energy and other innovative technologies such as batteries, hydrogen production and CCUS. Relevant training must be provided in these areas to reduce job loss. 

Governments must act now to implement policies to support the clean energy transition, particularly in relation to the financing of renewable projects and green technologies. Clearer policies, cohesive legal frameworks and increased financing set out by the government should reduce first-mover disadvantage in relation to deployment of new energy technologies such as hydrogen electrolysers and in turn encourage investment by the private sector. 

Deployment of technologies such as direct air capture (essentially hoovering carbon directly from the air) and CCUS are also key to achieving net-zero in the energy supply sector. Because it is a sector naturally difficult to decarbonise, it is unrealistic to aspire to completely cutting its CO2 emissions. An attempt to reduce carbon production must work in conjunction with innovative technologies to remove and re-use/store carbon produced. These technologies, along with mass global deployment of renewable energy (which is predicted to account for 90% of electricity generation by 2050) are key to the energy supply sector achieving net-zero. This transition also must factor in population growth and provision to those without access to electricity. 

I am looking forward to seeing if the announcements and discussions of new measures at the summit today will have meaningfully tackled the above issues. 

Author - Iona Gatenby