As the biggest fire in European history raged through Greek forests in August 2023, 10-year interest rates in the eurozone soared to around 3.25 percent, a level not seen since 2011, and climbed to 3.5 percent in October 2023 percent. The end of "free money" meant the end of the sometimes excessive financial support of real estate, as buildings in Excel models were reduced to mere cash flows and shortfalls were erased by constant reductions in cap rates. The lesson from this crisis is that a building, before being an investment product, derives its value from its inhabitants. The building should be useful, efficient, comfortable, desirable and accessible for the residents and consequently also for the investors. (Laurence Desmazieres from ICAWOOD)

The Net Zero to 2050 dataset contains figures and tables from the publication, along with global level projections for a 2050 Net Zero Emissions (NZE) scenario based on detailed modeling of the energy sector. You can also read the full Net Zero to 2050 report or explore specific indicators in our Net Zero to 2050 data browser.  Commercial use : To use the data for commercial purposes or to use or distribute your work derived from the dataset for commercial purposes, please see the related product " Net Zero by 2050 Scenario - Commercial License "

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When it comes to clean energy, uranium-fueled nuclear power plants often take a back seat to solar and wind power, but they're still the world's second-largest source of low-carbon electricity. Nuclear energy operates without emissions, reduces carbon dioxide and limits harmful air pollutants. It's not just an alternative; is key to the global transition to clean and sustainable energy – the key to net zero emissions.   In this article, we explore the uniqueness and drivers of the resurgent interest in nuclear energy . That means diving into the uranium sector, the emerging bull market, and why it's key to a net zero world. ((Jennifer L, carboncredits.com)

Many do not realize that this is not the first energy transition. Although the media made it seem like it was the first energy transition, it is not. For example, the development of nuclear energy, which began in World War II, was a significant energy transition. In today's dollars half a trillion dollars went into research and development of nuclear reactors along with uranium mines and manufacturing plants that would feed functioning nuclear reactors. In fact, one of the most fascinating stories of collusion, corruption and cartels happened as America was developing its first energy transition. It's amazing that he almost "destroyed" nuclear industry . So before you think the current energy transition has failed (which is not over and will happen), let's explain the drama that nearly destroyed America's first major energy transition. Have you heard of the yellow cartel? ((Jennifer L, carboncredits.com)

On 25 October 2023, the NZIA voted in the ITRE parliamentary committee, a key step towards the final approval of the file, which helps to strengthen the competitiveness of the European cleantech sector. Hydrogen, with its wide range of applications and potential for decarbonisation, is included in the legislation as a strategic technology to meet these ambitions. Electrolyzers and fuel cells are within the full scope of the regulation, as they have been upgraded to strategic technologies in the European toolbox to achieve 55 % emission reductions by 2030 and the net zero target by 2050. The European Commission wants to ensure that by 2030 at least 40 % of the EU's annual needs for the introduction of clean technologies were to be produced at home - including electrolyzers and fuel cells.

Local governments are at the forefront of solving today's most pressing urban challenges, including environmental degradation, migration, housing crises and social inequalities. Among them, climate change has become a major issue for municipalities across Europe, as confirmed by the Eurocities Pulse survey. Climate action was by far the highest priority of European mayors in 2023. Meanwhile, more than 5,000 European cities have committed to the Covenant of Mayors initiative and adopted action plans for sustainable energy. The EU's mission for climate-neutral and smart cities has shown enthusiasm and strong political commitment, with more than 100 cities across Europe committing to the ambitious goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2030.

Agriculture plays a positive and important role in mitigating climate change: crops, hedges and trees capture carbon from the atmosphere, and properly managed soil provides carbon storage. However, agriculture contributes more than 10 %  of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the EU, mainly through the release of methane and nitrous oxide. The EU is committed to becoming climate neutral by 2050, which means that significant efforts are needed across all sectors to reduce emissions. This includes agriculture, which is also one of the sectors most affected by climate change. As a contribution to identifying possible policy approaches to reducing emissions in this sector, the European Commission has today published a new independent study on “ Pricing agricultural emissions and rewarding climate action in the agri-food value chain."

In a carbon neutral building, energy efficiency is paramount. Architects and engineers use principles such as passive solar design, natural ventilation and high-efficiency insulation. In addition to energy-efficient design, carbon-neutral buildings also use renewable energy technologies to generate electricity. This can include solar panels, wind turbines and in some cases geothermal systems. The electricity generated by these systems can be used to power the building's lighting, heating and cooling systems, as well as any appliances or equipment in the building.

DUBAI: The World Governments Summit (WGS) has launched a report titled 'Net Zero: The Countdown has begun', which examines the challenges of global warming and outlines 5 key high-impact actions to stimulate decarbonisation efforts in conjunction with the UAE. preparations for holding the conference of the UN contracting parties on climate change (COP28). Launched in collaboration with "Arthur D. Little", the report recalls the scale of the climate emergency and the collective action to date to reduce global CO2 emissions. With the 1.5 degree Celsius target increasingly out of reach, the report warns that the world has less than 400 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent left to burn by 2050. The report also highlights that 70 countries, which account for 90 % of world GDP and 76 % of total emissions , committed to net zero and that the world can expect COP28 to deliver real results, not just good intentions. (Mohamed Yousef AlSharhan)

The term "net zero" remains poorly defined among the public. so what is it? Why is this necessary and how can it not solve all our climate problems? Net zero' has become a buzzword in climate science and policy. Nations, states, and cities must achieve net zero carbon emissions within decades to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. Companies have set net-zero-aligned goals to address the growing interest in environmentally friendly products. Even individuals, especially those with carbon-intensive lifestyles, have set themselves net-zero paths. However, despite its growing popularity, the term net zero remains poorly defined among the public and is often used as a misnomer by actors with bad faith who want to look good for the planet at face value. (Aissa Dearing)

Renew Europe welcomes today's approval of the report on the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) by the Industry, Research and Energy Committee. It lays a solid foundation for the deployment of a truly European cleantech industry that is able to compete globally and contributes to the strengthening of our open strategic autonomy. Faced with anti-competitive practices and massive subsidies from China and the United States (IRA), the EU emphasizes that subsidization is not a panacea and is committed to working to level the playing field to keep the industry on European soil while achieving its energy and climate ambitions.

MEP Christophe Grudler , (Movement Démocrate, France) , Restore Europe's Shadow at NZIA, declared:

"If we want our climate transition to be successful, we need to drastically expand our production of clean technologies in the EU. The Net Zero Industry Act will help us achieve this by making permitting easier and supporting our innovative industries. Our goal is to strengthen our industrial sovereignty by producing more solar panels, wind turbines, electrolysers, SMRs or batteries in Europe."

The world of carbon offsets and carbon offset programs can be quite complex and intimidating. So if you're looking for the best carbon offset programs for 2023 but don't know your options, this article will guide you. You'll learn important terms, what carbon offset program you should choose, and why investing in this space is important.

What is a carbon offset?

First things first. We need to define what carbon offset means.

Essentially, this is a credit purchased by an individual or entity to offset their carbon emissions or footprint. One carbon offset generally represents one tonne of CO2 reduced or removed. And so carbon compensation means financial support for a project that can reduce emissions. Carbon offsets they are produced by companies that remove CO2 from the atmosphere. These offsets are then sold to companies that emit (or have emitted) CO2 into the atmosphere. (Carboncredits.com, Jennifer L)

With this global commitment to CCS, it is time to shift our focus to real solutions on the ground. We have compiled a list Top 10 Carbon Capture Projects in 2023 . These projects are at the forefront of carbon capture technology, embodying the spirit of innovation and sustainability needed to effectively combat climate change.

Here you will find a detailed report that profiles each of these projects in terms of size, partners, efficiency, types of technologies and their suppliers, the company's industry and the final destination of the captured carbon.

1. The goal of the Go4Zero project is to become the first carbon neutral cement plant in Belgium.
2. The goal of the Wabash CO2 Sequestration Project is capture and store carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from an ammonia plant in West Terre Haute, Indiana, USA.
3. The Oil Sands CCUS Pathways to Net Zero (ALB) (14 facilities) . An initiative by six of Canada's largest oil sands producers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their operations by approximately 22 million TPA by 2030 in Alberta, Canada.
4. CalCC Lhoist Air Liquide Lime Plant Rety Project is seeking to decarbonise the Lhoist lime plant in Réty, France. Lime is one of the "difficult to reduce" industries, because during its production, CO2 is produced primarily by the decomposition of limestone.
5. Project Anthemis , Belgium.
6. The Rocky Mountain Carbon Project , The Rocky Mountain Carbon Project in Alberta, Canada, is the world's largest BECCS (Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage) initiative to capture biogenic CO2 emissions from a forest-based renewable materials facility.
7. Calpine Baytown Energy Center (TX) Carbon Capture Project , Texas, USA
8. Rohm chemical factory decarbonization project , Germany.
9. South Texas Direct Air Capture Hub (DAC 1) is set to become the world's largest direct air capture (DAC) facility in the Texas Permian Basin, USA Updated since inception in 2019.
10. Removr large plant DCA Project , Iceland. The first operational DAC plant that relies on zeolites was commissioned in 2022 in Norway, with plans to scale the technology up to 2,000 TPA CO2 by 2025 through the Removr project.

To address the environmental impacts of economic and industrial sectors, a number of strategies are being developed that seek to combine economics, technology and ecology. Among them the concept of " carbon neutrality " and using " green ties ” represent two key approaches. Green bonds are financial instruments used to raise capital for projects with an environmental benefit. These may include projects in the field of renewable energy, clean transport, energy efficiency and adaptation to climate change. According to the Climate Bonds Initiative's 2023 report, the global green bond market has grown rapidly in recent years to more than $1 trillion. In this sense, carbon neutrality and green bonds are not only economic or technological tools, but also symbols of a new way of thinking about our relationship with nature. They represent an attempt to restore our relationship with the world not in terms of exploitation, but in terms of care and responsibility. (Davide Francesco Sada and Enrico Garzotto)

As decarbonisation becomes essential for a sustainable future, the fashion industry is taking steps to reduce carbon emissions, with global brands and organizations leading the way. The textile and clothing industry has developed a bit of a reputation for its environmental footprint. The industry's entire supply chain, from raw material production to manufacturing, transportation and disposal, is closely linked to processes that emit high levels of carbon. This led to an alarming prediction that according to data from earth.org global emissions of the fashion industry will increase by 50 % by 2030. Long criticized for its unsustainable practices and carbon footprint, there is an urgent push to decarbonise across the industry to reverse the trend. (Isatou Ndure)

In recent years, "biodiversity offsets" and "credits" have been promoted as one of the key ways to finance nature conservation and support global biodiversity goals. Simply put, 'biodiversity offsetting' is a system of assigning value to a habitat, plant or animal, meaning that a 'credit' or 'unit' can be bought or sold to 'compensate' for the damage caused, creating a financial incentive to protect natural wealth elsewhere. Biodiversity-rich developing countries are asking developed countries for more public funding and "debt relief" - which is different from climate finance - to help meet their biodiversity goals. (Aruna Chandrasekhar)

The International Energy Agency's (IEA) latest Net Zero Roadmap suggests that tripling renewable capacity to 11,000 GW by 2030 is one way to meet global climate goals. The IEA's 2023 Net Zero Roadmap outlines a global path to achieving the 1.5 ̊C target. It was first published in 2021, since which the energy sector has seen key changes. The updated version also calls for a united effort to help reduce global warming when world leaders meet at the upcoming COP28 in Dubai in November. 

Increasing the capacity of renewable resources

The agency said that increasing renewable energy sources, along with improving energy efficiency, reducing methane emissions and increasing electrification, by 2030 would bring more than 80 % necessary emission reduction.  The plan suggests that by tripling global installed capacity of renewable energy on 11,000 gigawatts by 2030, the largest reduction in emissions will be achieved. (Jennifer L)

Europe could achieve net zero carbon emissions over the next 10 years by incorporating nature into its urban infrastructure. A recent study published by researchers from Sweden, the US and China in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change shows how 54 European cities could reduce carbon emissions by an average of 17.4 percent using nature-based solutions such as parks, street improvements and roof gardens. "Nature-based solutions not only offset part of the city's emissions, but can also contribute to reducing emissions and resource consumption," said Zahra Kalantari, co-author and Associate Professor of Water and Environmental Engineering at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology. in the media report. For example, city parks, greenery and trees encourage more walking, cycling and other environmentally positive habits. Other examples of nature-based solutions that Kalantari and her co-authors explored include urban agriculture, permeable pavements that allow rainwater to be absorbed into the ground, narrower roads with more greenery and trees, and wildlife habitat protection. (Megan DeLaire)

Commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are complex and multifaceted. Major oil corporations are passing through – large companies – really from fossil fuels to greener energy sources, or are they simply engaging in a strategic carbon credit game?  A global research team led by Kyoto University examined for the first time the transition and carbon offset strategies of these major oil companies. The database created for the project was made available to the public to increase the transparency of the study. "To measure each major's intent to transition, we used indicators of their plans to phase out oil and gas supplies and take responsibility for all life-cycle emissions," says Gregory Trencher of Kyoto University's Graduate School of Environmental Studies, referring to current clean energy . investments that only complement – not replace – fossil fuels. (Kyoto University)

The future of aviation may mean constant technological and operational advances, innovative solutions to improve the customer experience, a customizable offering of ticketing and baggage pricing options, and a higher priority for green air travel. With the growing debate among industry stakeholders about the appropriate role of environmental, social and governance (ESG) in business operations, we look at some of the ways some players in the aviation industry are taking steps to improve their ESG strategies to manage risks and emerging legal challenges. (Attorney Analysis by Westlaw Today, part of Thomson Reuters.)

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