ONLINE | POLITICO: Energy Visions Series – Sectoral decarbonization in Europe by 2050: green, efficient and competitive?

Achieving climate neutrality by 2050 means radical changes for each sector of the European economy: from maritime, to aviation, heavy duty transport and buildings among others.

Going neutral means everything from switching steel production from coal to hydrogen, accelerating the demand for clean energy, fostering greater investments and pushing new technologies for aviation. Industrial decarbonization could work if ammonia, cement, ethylene, and steel undertake energy-efficiency improvements, switch to heat generated with electricity, and massively ramp up the use of hydrogen and biofuels among others — but it won’t be cheap. A McKinsey analysis suggests it could cost the world as much as $21 trillion through 2050[1].

Key questions to be addressed include:

• How can the climate neutrality’s objective be translated into feasible policies to enable the decarbonization of sectors that have very different economic, technological and regulatory requirements? Should the EU develop roadmaps by sector to reach net zero emissions?
• Can heavy industry be decarbonized by 2050 in a way that leaves Europe with economically viable and competitive businesses?
• What is the role of the European Commission in efforts like the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance and the Battery Alliance to help such sectors get to net zero emissions?
• Can the EU create markets for low carbon solutions, and how can Brussels and national governments be involved in such an effort?
• What is the role of the EU and national governments in fostering investments in low carbon technologies and to synchronize the demand and supply of clean energies?

Watch this debate which will feature Cefic Director General, Marco Mensink, on the high-level panel.