A review of successful climate change mitigation policies in major emitting economies and the potential of global replication
Fekete, Hanna; Kuramochi, Takeshi; Roelfsema, Mark; Elzen, Michel den; Forsell, Nicklas; Höhne, Niklas; Luna, Lisa; Hans, Frederic; Sterl, Sebastian; Olivier, Jos; van Soest, Heleen; Frank, Stefan; Gusti, Mykola
(2021) Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, volume 137, pp. 1 - 18
(Article)
Abstract
This article reviews climate change mitigation policies implemented in five major emitting economies: China, the European Union, India, Japan and the United States. It analyses their historical performance in terms of energy system and greenhouse gas emissions indicators. In cases where policies aim to reduce future emissions, their target performance
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levels are assessed. The review centres on the sectors of electricity generation, passenger vehicles, freight transport, forestry, industry, buildings, agriculture, and oil and gas production. Most focus countries have implemented successful policies for renewable energy, fuel efficiency, electrification of passenger vehicles, and forestry. For other sectors, information is limited or very heterogeneous (e.g. buildings, appliances, agriculture) or there are few comprehensive policies in place (e.g. industry). The article further presents an explorative emissions scenario developed under the assumption that all countries will replicate both the observed trends in sector-level indicators and the trends that policies for future emissions reductions aspire to achieve. It shows that the global replication of sector progress would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 by about 20% compared to a current policies scenario. All countries analysed would overachieve the emissions reduction targets in their post-2020 climate targets. However, the resulting reduction in global emissions by 2030 would still not be sufficient to keep the world on track for a global cost-effective pathway that keeps temperature increase below 2°C. The findings of this study emphasise the need for transformative policies to keep the Paris Agreement temperature limit within reach.
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Keywords: Greenhouse gas emissions reductions, Nationally determined contributions, Policy review, Replication of progress, Sector climate policy, Sector progress, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
ISSN: 1364-0321
Publisher: Elsevier Limited
Note: Funding Information: This work was financed mainly by the European Commission , Directorate General Climate Action (EC service contract N° 340201/2017/64007/SER/CLIMA.C1 ). H.F., T.K., N.H. and F.H. were supported by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 821471 (ENGAGE). The authors thank Marie Weishaupt of NewClimate Institute and Michael van Laake for their language edits. Funding Information: This work was financed mainly by the European Commission, Directorate General Climate Action (EC service contract N? 340201/2017/64007/SER/CLIMA.C1). H.F. T.K. N.H. and F.H. were supported by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 821471 (ENGAGE). The authors thank Marie Weishaupt of NewClimate Institute and Michael van Laake for their language edits. Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Authors
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