Are growth and net zero incompatible?
12 February 2025
SUGGESTED
In the Media
Press Release
Lifestyle Economics
17 March 2025
Andy Mayer writes in CityAM
IEA COO and Energy Analyst Andy Mayer wrote in CityAM on Net Zero.
Andy wrote:
“Growth is simple, it’s either inventing new stuff or providing old stuff using fewer inputs. Net zero conversely is a political target that requires the UK to emit zero greenhouse gases (mostly CO2), on balance, from all economic activity by 2050.
To achieve this first requires the decarbonisation of our energy system, currently 75 per cent dependent on fossil fuels (mostly oil and gas), given energy is the primary input to all other activities. The government’s preferred path is using technologies like renewables (mainly offshore wind) that use more inputs (mostly land and grid infrastructure) to produce less energy, less reliably, meaning a costly dual energy system to provide back-up. It has wiser ambitions to expand nuclear power, but this is much longer term.”
Read the full article here.
Andy wrote:
“Growth is simple, it’s either inventing new stuff or providing old stuff using fewer inputs. Net zero conversely is a political target that requires the UK to emit zero greenhouse gases (mostly CO2), on balance, from all economic activity by 2050.
To achieve this first requires the decarbonisation of our energy system, currently 75 per cent dependent on fossil fuels (mostly oil and gas), given energy is the primary input to all other activities. The government’s preferred path is using technologies like renewables (mainly offshore wind) that use more inputs (mostly land and grid infrastructure) to produce less energy, less reliably, meaning a costly dual energy system to provide back-up. It has wiser ambitions to expand nuclear power, but this is much longer term.”
Read the full article here.
SHARE
