The chief of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih Birol, has expressed optimism about the world’s ability to stay within the 1.5°C limit on global heating, citing the “staggering” growth of renewable energy and green investments over the past two years. Birol highlighted the rapid adoption of solar power and electric vehicles as encouraging signs but emphasized that more must be done. He noted that greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector remain high, and extreme weather events this year have underscored the alarming pace of climate change.
The IEA’s “Net Zero Roadmap” report calls on developed countries, including the UK, to accelerate their 2050 net-zero targets. The report suggests that most countries need to move forward their net-zero dates, with some, like Germany, aiming for 2045, and others, like China and India, setting targets for 2060 and 2070, respectively. The upcoming UN climate summit, Cop28, scheduled for November and December in Dubai, provides an opportunity for countries to strengthen their emissions-cutting plans. Birol advocates for a tripling of renewable energy by 2030 and a 75% reduction in methane emissions from the energy sector by the same date, with potential cost savings due to high gas prices. However, geopolitical tensions and international disputes may complicate the summit’s progress.