A safe climate with no more than 1.5°C warming will require “net-zero emissions” by 2050. More and more nations, states, cities, companies, and universities are embracing this target. This presentation will address the vigorous debates over questions such as:
- Can renewables supply 100% of electricity? 100% of all energy?
- What role should carbon capture and storage (CCS) play? In the power sector? In reducing industrial emissions? In “negative emission” technologies such as bioenergy with CCS or direct air capture?
Analysis and modeling of pathways to net-zero can help answer these questions. Understanding how assumptions regarding the availability, performance, and integration of various technologies shape the answers, and illuminate the implications for policy choices and for priorities for research and development.
