Low-carbon energy sources are expected to grow from 32 percent of the global power generation mix today to 80 percent by 2050.
Hydropower and nuclear, the two largest sources of low-carbon electricity today, provide an essential foundation for transitions. As the electricity sector
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. ## ENSURE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE, SUSTAINABLE AND MODERN ENERGY FOR ALL. Use these five targets to create action to ensure universal access to sustainable energy. By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services. ### INCREASE GLOBAL PERCENTAGE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY. By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency. By 2030, expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and landlocked developing countries, in accordance with their respective programmes of support. Whether you’re a business or employee, at the start of your sustainability journey or developing your next set of commitments, we’ve got useful resources to support your contribution to the Global Goals.
Report citation IRENA (2018), Global Energy Transformation: A roadmap to 2050, International Renewable Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi. HOW TO FOSTER THE GLOBAL ENERGY TRANSFORMATION 72 The capability of a country or region to reap the GDP, employment and welfare benefits of the transition also depends to a large extent on the degree to which domestic supply chains can respond to new economic demand patterns stimulated by the transition. IEA and IRENA (2017), Perspectives for the energy transition: Investment needs for a low-carbon energy system, International Energy Agency (IEA) and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Abu Dhabi. IRENA (2017a), Accelerating the Energy Transition through Innovation, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Abu Dhabi. IRENA (2017b), Stranded Assets and Renewables: How the energy transition affects the value of energy reserves, buildings and capital stock, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Abu Dhabi. IRENA & CPI (2018), Global landscape of renewable energy finance 2018, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and Climate Policy Institute (CPI), Abu Dhabi.
216 International Energy Agency | Special Report LNG LPG MEPS NDCs NEA NGLs NGV NOC NOX N2O NZE OECD OPEC PHEV PLDV PM PM2.5 PPP PV R&D RD&D SAF SDG SO2 SR1.5 STEPS T&D TES TFC TFEC TPED UEC UN UNDP UNEP UNFCCC UK US VRE WEO WHO ZEV liquefied natural gas liquefied petroleum gas minimum energy performance standards Nationally Determined Contributions Nuclear Energy Agency (an agency within the OECD) natural gas liquids natural gas vehicle national oil company nitrogen oxides nitrous oxide Net‐Zero Emissions Scenario Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries plug‐in hybrid electric vehicles passenger light‐duty vehicle particulate matter fine particulate matter purchasing power parity photovoltaics research and development research, development and demonstration sustainable aviation fuel Sustainable Development Goals (United Nations) sulphur dioxide IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre‐industrial levels Stated Policies Scenario transmission and distribution total energy supply total final consumption total final energy consumption total primary energy demand unit energy consumption United Nations United Nations Development Programme United Nations Environment Programme United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change United Kingdom United States variable renewable energy World Energy Outlook World Health Organization Zero‐emissions vehicle Annex D | References 217 Annex D References Chapter 1: Announced net zero pledges and the energy sector climatewatchdata (2021), https://www.climatewatchdata.org/ndc‐overview.
**The global pathway to net zero emissions by 2050 detailed in this report requires all governments to significantly strengthen and then successfully implement their energy and climate policies.** Commitments made to date fall far short of what is required by that pathway. **In this Summary for Policy Makers, we outline the essential conditions for the global energy sector to reach net zero CO****2** **emissions by 2050.** The pathway described in depth in this report achieves this objective with no offsets from outside the energy sector, and with low reliance on negative emissions technologies. **The path to net zero emissions is narrow: staying on it requires immediate and massive deployment of all available clean and efficient energy technologies.** In the net zero emissions pathway presented in this report, the world economy in 2030 is some 40% larger than today but uses 7% less energy. The transition to net zero brings substantial new opportunities for employment, with 14 million jobs created by 2030 in our pathway thanks to new activities and investment in clean energy.
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To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C – as called for in the [Paris Agreement](https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/paris-agreement) – emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. To develop stronger and clearer standards for net-zero emissions pledges by non-State entities such as businesses, investors, cities and regions, and speed up their implementation, UN Secretary-General António Guterres in March 2022 established a [High-Level Expert Group](https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/high-level-expert-group) on the Net-Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities. To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C – as called for in the [Paris Agreement](https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/paris-agreement) – emissions need to be reduced by 55 per cent by 2035 and reach net zero by 2050. Getting to net zero requires all governments – first and foremost the biggest emitters – to significantly strengthen their [Nationally Determined Contributions](https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/all-about-ndcs) (NDCs) and take bold, immediate steps towards reducing emissions now. ### [Strengthening the standards for net-zero pledges](https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/high-level-expert-group). * [Explaining net zero](https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/net-zero-coalition). * [Checklists for credibility of net-zero pledges](https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/implementing-high-level-expert-group-report).