As a necessary step to remain on track to limit global temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century, the world must achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Renewable energy targets have been variously contentious, in flux, and ambitious since the Paris Agreement. Moreover, within the energy community, there has been growing debate on the feasibility of achieving a 100% global renewable energy system.
The study identifies common challenges and opportunities for a rapid and holistic shift towards more ambitious renewable energy targets and provides related policy recommendations. It outlines actions that can facilitate the success of such scenarios and identifies requirements to support a 100% renewable energy system by mid-century.The IRENA Coalition for Action states that the majority of anthropogenic emissions are due to energy-related activities.
Various steps to achieve these end-use energy reductions are suggested, such as greatly improved efficiencies in building design and retrofits, expanded use of heat pump technologies, and demand-side management strategies.Perhaps the most important common finding among all scenarios is that electricity in total final energy consumption will grow substantially over the next 30 years, in part due to the electrification of the industrial, transport, and building sectors.