The road to net zero runs through COP26

At COP26, world leaders aim to agree how much and how quickly their nations will reduce carbon emissions to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

The Zoom meetings of the Covid-19 era will be replaced by tough and honest face-to-face talks between climate negotiators and leaders. Two questions will be top of mind:

How to cut carbon emissions fast and deep?

According to the UN, existing national climate commitments for carbon reduction will lead to a 16% rise in global carbon emissions by 2030, instead of achieving the 45% reduction needed to hit the 1.5°C pathway. The cost of mitigation, adaptation and resilience measures for our rapidly warming planet would be exorbitant.

“The world is headed for nearly 3°C of warming, where extreme weather becomes normal and sea-levels rise dramatically, with severe impacts on lives, livelihoods and biodiversity,” says Michael Simmelsgaard, Group Chief Operating Officer at Ramboll. “Governments must move beyond pledges and the next election cycle and be specific about how they intend to cut emissions deeply and rapidly.”

At the recent G7 summit of the world’s biggest economies, leaders agreed to phase out coal-fired power generation, stop funding coal plants, and aim for the 1.5°C limit.

“Yet much more can be done, especially to enable a rapid transition to green energy. Clear policy frameworks are urgently required to deploy green energy solutions at scale, including in hard-to-decarbonise sectors such as aviation, shipping, and heavy industry,” says Michael Simmelsgaard.

Fossil fuels today provide 83% of global primary energy demand and contribute about 73% of global carbon emissions. Displacing fossil energy in the grid will require significant expansion of solar and wind power; large scale-up deployment of green hydrogen to tackle hard-to- decarbonise sectors; and investment in carbon capture, utilisation, and storage technologies.

At the same time, a more sustainable growth model that works to reduce embodied carbon in the built environment, while emphasising liveability and circular economy approaches, is also required.

Who will pay for climate action?

The G7 also agreed to mobilise USD 100 bn per year from public and private sources through to 2025 to help developing countries, who will be hardest hit by the impact of global warming.

Clear policy is also needed here to encourage stable long-term investments by the private sector in the green transition, both in developed and developing countries. “COP26 needs to send a strong signal that governments are ready to work closely with companies to ramp-up global investment and innovation in the green transition,” says Michael Simmelsgaard.

Ramboll at COP26

Ramboll is participating at COP26 and sharing insights to support governments and businesses in taking climate action to decarbonise, adapt and drive sustainable change.

“Regulators, investors and clients are already pushing companies to deliver low-carbon solutions in key parts of the global economy, from energy, buildings, and transport, to industrial manufacture and agriculture. At Ramboll, we are ready to help companies and governments navigate the journey to net zero,” says Michael Simmelsgaard.

Learn more about Ramboll’s participation at COP26 and affiliated events in Glasgow, and find out where to meet Ramboll at COP26.