Rapid Uptake of Solar Energy, E-Vehicles Contributes To Global Heating Limit

The rapid uptake of solar energy as well as the electronic vehicles have contributed in ensuring limiting the global heat.

Scientists said that the "staggering" growth of renewable energy as well as the green investment in the past two years could help in maintaining the 1.5 °C limit on global heating.

(Photo : Getty Images/Tiziana Fabi)

1.5 °C limit on global heating

Experts underscored that the case for transforming the global energy system in line with the 1.5 °C goal has never been stronger.

The month of August this year was considered as the hottest on record by a large margin, and the hottest month ever after July of this year.

Studies have said that the impacts of climate change are increasingly frequent and severe, and scientific warnings about the dangers of the current pathway have become stronger than ever.

Scientists said that global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the energy sector have reached a new record high of 37 billion tons (Gt) in 2022, which was 1% above their pre-pandemic level, but are set to peak this decade.

They pointed out that the speed of the roll-out of key clean energy technologies means that the demand for coal, oil and natural gas will all peak this decade even without any new climate policies.

This is encouraging, but not nearly enough for the 1.5 °C goal, according to the experts.

"Clean energy technology adoption surged at an unprecedented pace over the last two years. Solar PV capacity additions increased by nearly 50%, and currently track ahead of the trajectory envisaged in the 2021 version of our Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE Scenario). Electric car sales expanded 240% and stationary battery installations by 200% since 2020," the International Energy Agency said.

Studies have shown that the global manufacturing capacities for solar PV and electric vehicle batteries would be sufficient to meet projected demand in 2030.

Experts also noted that the progress reflects cost reductions for key clean energy technologies - solar PV, wind, heat pumps and batteries - which fell by close to 80% on a deployment weighted average basis between 2010 and 2022.

Paris Agreement

It was found out that 90% of countries have updated their first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.

If countries deliver in line with their revised NDCs, the emissions in 2030 will be around 5 Gt lower than under the first round of NDCs.

Experts said that more needs to be done to be on course by 2030 to deliver announced longer-term net zero pledges or our NZE Scenario.

Both advanced economies and emerging market as well as the developing economies need to strengthen ambition.

The fair and effective international co-operation is urgently needed to unlock clean energy investment in emerging market and developing economies other than in China.

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change.

It was adopted by 196 Parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, on December 12, 2015 and it entered into force on November 4, 2016.

The overarching goal of the agreement is to hold "the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels" and pursue efforts "to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels."

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