Key areas of action
Decarbonising energy supply
Achieving net-zero will involve transitioning to an energy system that is comprised solely of low carbon sources. Key to this is the rapid phase-out of fossil fuels and electrification of the energy system, alongside a widespread, rapid roll-out of renewable and other low carbon sources.
Reducing demand
Supply-side changes must be accompanied by reductions in demand for energy services. This requires improved energy efficiency measures across industry, the built environment and in the home, alongside significant shifts in consumption and changes in behaviour.
Capture and removal
Alongside capturing greenhouse gases from industrial processes before they enter the atmosphere, active removal is necessary to balance remaining emissions from hard-to-treat sectors. This can be achieved through natural processes such as afforestation and using technologies such as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage.
Fundamental principles
Just transitions
The transition to net-zero must be managed to ensure that burdens and benefits are fairly distributed, and to protect the most vulnerable populations and communities. This includes fair apportionment of the remaining emissions between nations based on historic contributions.
Ensuring resilience
Any actions taken to achieve net-zero must be resilient to the impacts of a changing climate. Even at the current level of warming the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events have increased and therefore technologies, systems and societies must be appropriately equipped.
Delivering co-benefits
A well-managed transition to net-zero can deliver multiple co-benefits, as well as avoided costs. For example, improved human health will result from better air quality, more active travel, and changes in diet, and larger areas of green space may lead to increases in biodiversity.