Climate Solutions Series
About the Project
To stabilize the climate and prevent the most catastrophic effects of climate change, we must reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net-zero by or soon after 2050.
The Climate Solutions Series brings together a wide range of experts to examine ways to reach net-zero GHG emissions in different sectors of the economy. This series of six public events opened with a discussion of emissions pathways; the following five events will focus on power, transportation, industry, and buildings, and conclude with carbon dioxide removal technologies that cut across multiple economic sectors. Each of these five events will highlight technology pathways, enabling policy environments, and current and potential private sector contributions to achieve deep decarbonization.
The CSIS Energy Security and Climate Change Program will release analysis examining the path to decarbonization of each sector following each session.
Sessions
January 23, 2020: Deep Decarbonization Scenarios
The first session looks at various pathways to net-zero emissions, ranging from a significant reduction in fossil fuel consumption and major behavior changes with little reliance on “negative emissions,” to smaller structural changes with a heavy reliance on technologies to reduce carbon from point sources and the atmosphere. The event features a presentation on these various pathways, followed by a facilitated discussion featuring perspectives from multiple levels of government.
View the Deep Decarbonization Pathways resource brief here.
March 30, 2020: AUDIO EVENT: Decarbonizing the Electric Power Sector
The second session features a discussion of how to decarbonize the electric power sector by 2050. It covers key themes for the power sector, including: managing a changing power mix, the importance of both deployment and innovation, and how wealthy countries can help low-income countries develop on a low-carbon pathway. This audio event consists of individual interviews with experts followed by a collection of themes that emerged from their interviews.
TBA, 2020: Decarbonizing Global Transport
The third session will look at the landscape for decarbonizing transport before diving into solutions for decarbonizing personal transport, addressing transportation infrastructure in developing countries, and decarbonizing freight and non-road shipping.
TBA, 2020: Decarbonizing Heavy Industry
The fourth session will provide insight into decarbonizing energy-intensive industrial processes like chemicals, steel, and cement production.
TBA, 2020: Decarbonizing the Built Environment
The fifth session will cover emissions from buildings, including from construction, inefficient design, and heating and cooling.
TBA, 2020: Carbon Dioxide Removal Solutions
The final session looks across sectors to focus on carbon dioxide removal solutions such as carbon capture and sequestration, direct air capture, and nature-based solutions.
This project is made possible by support from JPMorgan Chase & Co.
