Delaying climate action increases the challenge

Current climate actions are not nearly enough to put the world on a path to keep global warming well below 2^oC, according to Equinor’s latest Energy Perspectives report. ‘Global emissions increased in 2018 to reach an all-time high and the longer this continues, the stronger measures will be necessary to reach common goals. The need is ever more urgent for rapid and significant change,’ states the company.

The 9th edition of the Energy Perspectives report provides a global review of possible macroeconomic and energy market developments towards 2050. It focuses in particular on the challenges and opportunities related to meeting the world’s energy demand in a sustainable manner.

‘The world is progressing on ensuring access to energy for more people. We also see record growth in new renewables. However, as time goes by without reductions in global CO₂ emissions, the path to a sustainable future becomes ever more challenging,’ says Equinor’s Chief Economist Eirik Wærness.

The future of energy is uncertain, and the report outlines a vast outcome space through three scenarios. The ‘Renewal’ scenario shows a way to achieve the targets of the Paris Agreement and limit global warming to well below 2^oC. This can only be delivered through rapid and significant policy tightening, global cooperation, technology developments and substantial changes in business and consumer behaviour.

To succeed, the changes in global energy systems have to be unprecedented and far-reaching. Solar and wind’s share of electricity generation is already growing from 1% in 2007 to around 7% in 2018. By 2050, around 50% of electricity should come from solar and wind, almost eradicating the use of coal. The global car fleet must also change from less than 1% to around 90% electric. But even this is not enough, notes the report.

‘The challenges of meeting energy demand in a sustainable manner are large and multi-faceted. Transforming the energy systems is key, but we also need massive energy efficiency gains and much more carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS). We will need all of the above,’ says Wærness. For every year going by without a peak in global energy-related emissions, the challenge of reducing emissions fast becomes almost exponentially greater.

Energy Perspectives also includes a ‘Reform’ scenario based on policy tightening to achieve the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) pledged in Paris in 2015, as well as continued technology improvements. In this scenario, energy-related CO₂ emissions peak around 2030 and then decline moderately, but not enough to deliver on climate targets.

The third scenario, ‘Rivalry’, describes a future where the energy transition is slow – due to lack of trust, geopolitical volatility and ineffective solutions. 

‘Unfortunately, we see many examples of weakened cooperation in the world today. We also see more polarisation in the climate debate, with growing activism for change but also protests against the social impacts of change. And, as renewable energy grows, there is more focus on the consequences of new energy projects on nature. In combination, these trends underscore the political complexity of meeting the climate challenge,’ comments Wærness.

Total global energy demand grew by 2.3% in 2018, the fastest since 2010. Every day the world relies on around 100mn barrels of oil and 11bn cm of gas. To reach the ambitions from Paris we need to see peak oil demand soon, suggests the report. The projected demand in 2050 in the different scenarios ranges between 52–118mn b/d of oil and 9–13bn cm/d of gas. Due to natural decline, existing oil and gas fields are not sufficient to meet this demand. New resources must be brought onstream, also in a scenario consistent with the well-below 2^oC target. The non-energy sector, including petrochemicals, is playing an increasing role in driving long-term oil and gas demand.

However, interest in hydrogen as a zero-carbon fuel is on the rise. The report shows how hydrogen could become a clean alternative for the industry, heating and transport sectors that cannot easily be electrified and also an energy storage opportunity, potentially providing an additional lever to reduce global CO₂ emissions.