As world leaders convene at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), it is obvious to all that bolder action is needed to avert disaster. The UN warns that global efforts to reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions remain insufficient to limit temperature increases to 1.5C, relative to pre-industrial levels.
\nTo meet this target, decarbonising the power sector is critical. Electricity accounts for about 25% of the world\u2019s GHG emissions, and it also will play a critical role in decarbonising other sectors, such as buildings, transportation, and manufacturing. The challenge, then, is to achieve \u201c24\/7 carbon-free energy\u201d (24\/7 CFE): the total elimination of carbon from the electricity sector \u2013 at every hour of every day, in every grid around the world.
\nResearch in the United States and Europe has shown that 24\/7 CFE strategies have a greater impact on the decarbonisation of electricity systems than the current practice of purchasing electricity from renewable sources to match annual consumption patterns. Recent International Energy Agency modelling for India and Indonesia shows that hourly matching strategies lead to more diverse technology portfolios, with the clean, dispatchable generation and storage needed for net-zero transitions in the power sector. Critically, this approach helps electricity systems shift away from fossil fuels by accelerating uptake of the full suite of carbon-free technologies needed to deliver around-the-clock clean power.
\nDecarbonising energy systems worldwide is possible, but it will require collective action to accelerate the development and deployment of advanced clean-energy technologies. New investments, supportive public policies, and partnerships among stakeholders are all part of the solution. That is why the UN, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), Google, and a diverse group of signatories launched the 24\/7 CFE Compact in 2021. The compact represents a growing global community of stakeholders that are committed to providing the support, tools, and partnerships needed to make 24\/7 CFE a reality everywhere.
\nAmong the most recent to join the 24\/7 CFE Compact is the Scottish government. \u201cScotland was the first country in the United Kingdom to declare a climate emergency, and indeed among the first in the world to recognise the importance of taking immediate and bold action,\u201d notes Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. \u201cGovernments must hold themselves to account in limiting global temperature rise to 1.5C. We are committed to putting accountability at the centre of all that we do. Our position is clear that unlimited extraction of fossil fuels is not consistent with our climate obligations.\u201d
\nSimilarly, just last month, Google and C40, a network of almost 100 cities, launched a first-of-its-kind 24\/7 CFE programme focusing on regional electricity grids. With urban areas accounting for over half the world\u2019s population and more than 70% of global carbon dioxide emissions, cities have a critical role to play in driving the changes needed to tackle the climate crisis.
\nDeveloping and emerging economies will need more energy to bridge energy-access gaps, and to support economic growth and development. But as capacity expands, it must be clean. A 24\/7 CFE approach can serve both purposes, providing both greater access and cleaner energy. We therefore must move faster to make 24\/7 CFE cheaper and more accessible globally. According to the latest IEA data, the number of people living without electricity will rise by almost 20mn in 2022, reaching nearly 775mn. Most of that increase will be in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the size of the cohort lacking access has nearly returned to its 2013 peak.
\nThe world cannot achieve net-zero emissions without first ensuring universal electricity access. That will require annual investments of at least $30bn \u2013 two-thirds of which will need to go to Sub-Saharan Africa \u2013 between now and 2030. Fortunately, not only is 24\/7 CFE a moral imperative, but it also represents the most cost-effective option for connecting underserved populations.
\nMany of these populations will otherwise continue to rely on dirtier sources of energy. Small island developing states such as Nauru, Palau, the Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago, for example, all have electricity grids that depend heavily on inefficient, carbon-intensive technologies such as diesel generators. These countries\u2019 experience shows why 24\/7 CFE must not be framed merely as a European or North American issue. It is a global one, and it has become increasingly urgent for developing countries on the front lines of climate change.
\nImplementing 24\/7 CFE strategies globally will require not only funding but also measures to scale up the deployment of advanced technologies, to create more favourable market conditions, and to share best practices and data. If we can fully decarbonise our grids, the rest of the green transition should become cheaper and easier.
\nThe 24\/7 CFE Compact provides an opportunity to drive the much-needed policy change, investment, and research in this crucial next phase of climate action. We invite all governments, companies, and organisations to join us and help chart a more sustainable path toward a net-zero future. \u2013 Project Syndicate<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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