With current climate policies and efforts to increase clean power generation, the remaining use of fossil fuels in industry, transport and heating in buildings will cause enough CO2 emissions to push climate targets out of reach, according to a study co-authored and co-designed by the JRC.
Accelerated energy efficiency improvements and a widespread electrification of energy demand are needed.
Otherwise, the world will become increasingly dependent on carbon dioxide removal to hold warming to well below 2°C, and the 1.5°C target for this century is likely to be unachievable.
A team of scientists from across the world set out to identify bottlenecks towards achieving the internationally agreed Paris climate targets.
They found that even with very strong efforts by all countries, including early and substantial strengthening of the intended nationally determined contributions, residual carbon emissions will reach around 1000 gigatons of CO2 by the end of the century.
Read more at European Commission Joint Research Centre
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