30.11.2023
Source: Energy & Management Powernews
In the run-up to the World Climate Conference in Dubai - COP 28 for short - the International Energy Agency has published a new report urging faster progress on energy efficiency.
In its latest report on global energy efficiency, the International Energy Agency (IEA) warns that the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius cannot currently be achieved. Global progress in efficiency has slowed in 2023, even though it has improved by 1.3 percent. This was announced by the IEA on November 29. However, an increase in annual efficiency gains to 4 percent by 2030 is necessary in order to reduce emissions from the energy sector to zero by 2050. This is a prerequisite for achieving the 1.5 degree target.
"The world's climate targets depend on our ability to make the global energy system much more efficient," said IEA Director Fatih Birol at the presentation of the efficiency report. If governments want to keep the 1.5 degree target within reach and ensure energy security, doubling energy efficiency in this decade is crucial. The analysis is a clear warning to politicians meeting in Dubai to commit to and implement stronger efficiency measures. The call is part of the conference's list of topics.
Climate target hangs by a thread
According to climate researchers, the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees compared to pre-industrial times is hanging by a thread. It is still theoretically possible, but only through a radical change in climate policy. The international community is striving to achieve the 1.5 degree target in order to avert the worst consequences of climate change. However, the measures planned by states to date are not ambitious enough. According to the United Nations, the Earth is currently heading towards more than 2.5 degrees Celsius of warming.
The slower pace of global efficiency improvements hides some strong gains at national level, according to the IEA. After an 8 percent improvement in energy efficiency in 2022, the EU will achieve a 5 percent improvement this year. The USA is on track for a 4 percent improvement in 2023. On the other hand, the IEA sees an upturn in energy-intensive sectors such as petrochemicals and aviation as well as booming demand for air conditioning in a year of exceptionally high temperatures as reasons for the slowdown in efficiency improvements.
Conclusion of the efficiency report
The "Energy Efficiency 2023" market report concludes that the political momentum for energy efficiency is continuing to increase following the global energy crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Investment in efficiency has increased by 45% since 2020. In the past year, countries accounting for three quarters of global energy demand have strengthened or introduced new energy efficiency policies. Key measures such as efficiency standards for air conditioning systems or industrial motors have also tripled in the past decade.
The report suggests further measures. For example, the widespread conversion of lighting to LED technology in the United States could save enough energy to power 3 million electric vehicles per year or heat 2.6 million households with heat pumps. Achieving a doubling of efficiency improvements would bring significant benefits to governments, citizens and industry, according to the IEA.
Employing workers in activities such as renovating homes, installing heat pumps and manufacturing more efficient cars would lead to the creation of 4.5 million more jobs. At the same time, current energy costs for private households would fall by around a third in advanced economies, for example. A doubling of energy efficiency improvements by 2030 would reduce global CO2 emissions by over 7 billion tons, which corresponds to the emissions of the entire current transport sector worldwide.
Further measures called for
In addition to doubling energy efficiency improvements in this decade, COP 28 should adopt further priority measures by 2030, according to a call from the IEA. These include tripling global renewable energy capacity and oil and gas companies committing to a clean energy transition, including a 75 percent reduction in methane emissions from their operations. In addition, investments in clean energy in emerging and developing countries must be promoted and an orderly decline in the consumption of fossil fuels must take place.
The report "Energy Efficiency 2023" is available for download on the IEA website.
Author: Susanne Harmsen
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