More and more regions in the world manage to combine economic growth with the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, according to the results of a study conducted by experts from the Institute for Climate Impact Research in Potsdam (PIK) in Germany. Analyzing data from 1,500 regions over the past 30 years, the researchers found that 30 percent of the regions managed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions while maintaining economic progress.
“We found that 30 percent of regions with available data fully decoupled carbon dioxide emissions from economic growth. “Regions with high incomes and a history of high-emitting industries, as well as those with a significant share of service and manufacturing sectors, have been particularly successful in reducing carbon dioxide emissions while maintaining economic growth,” said Anders Leverman, co-author of the study. .
Although this trend represents a significant step towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, the authors warn that the current rate of decoupling of economic growth and carbon dioxide emissions is not sufficient to achieve the global goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
The success of decoupling emissions from economic growth is further boosted by actions taken at the local level. Marija Zioga, PIK Institute scientist and lead author of the study, pointed out that cities in the European Union that have implemented climate change mitigation plans and regions with greater financial support for climate actions show higher rates of successful separation.
“Europe is continuously separating itself from other parts of the world, with many of its regions recording a continuous trend of separation over the last 20 years. In contrast, North America and Asia have seen more oscillatory patterns of separation across the decades, but there has been an improving trend in the last decade,” she adds.
Less than half of the region will succeed in achieving net-zero emissions by 2050
The researchers also analyzed the economic results of 1,500 subnational regions, where growth in gross regional product (GRP) per capita was recorded, which includes 85 percent of global emissions. By combining that data with online information on manufacturing carbon dioxide emission intensities over the past 30 years, they discovered significant global patterns of decoupling.
Experts also estimated the year in which each region could reach net-zero emissions, looking at past decoupling trends and their impact on emissions.
“Developed countries look set to meet these targets before others, but overall recent trends are not sufficient to achieve net-zero emissions by mid-century in most regions,” concludes study co-author Max Kotz.
He adds that if current rates of decoupling continue, less than half of sub-national regions will achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. That is why it is necessary for all levels of government to step up their efforts, and developed countries should increase investments in the energy transition in the countries of the global south.
Milena Maglovski
Source: energetskiportal.rs
