Study Describes Scenarios for Reducing CO2

The International Energy Agency released a report this week outlining two scenarios for the future of reducing carbon emissions. If left unchecked, the IEA says carbon emissions will increase 130% by 2050, with oil demand climbing 70%.

It doesn’t take an expert economist to tell you that a 70% increase in oil demand is not a viable option. To avoid the dual calamities of climate change and oil shock, the IEA suggested methods for returning emissions to current levels by 2050. However, if climate change is going to be kept within a 2-2.4 degree increase, the world community must reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2050.

Suggested methods include utilizing cleaner sources of power generation and vastly reducing the emissions output of industry. However, the study says that transportation will be the hardest area to curb emissions.

Transportation is 98% dependent on oil, and transportation-related emissions must be reduced 75% to make any meaningful impact. With this in mind, the IEA points to plug-in hybrid technology, advancements in fuel cells and renewed investment in public transportation as the quickest, most viable options for achieving these gains.

IEA Outlines Scenarios for Global CO2 Reduction by 2050; Transportation Emissions Need to Be Cut Eightfold (Green Car Congress)