Global Scans · Decarbonization · Weekly Summary

• [New] The Government of Canada has a significant opportunity to lead by example by making its operations low-carbon and strengthening the resilience of its assets, operations and services. Transport Canada
• [New] Technology group Wartsila has begun testing its thermal balancing engines using pure hydrogen and expects to have an engine and power plant concept capable of running on 100% hydrogen by 2025, enabling the transition to decarbonised energy systems around the world. Robin Whitlock
• [New] Ireland set out key climate targets in its Climate Action Plan in 2021, with a goal of a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and net zero by 2050. European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency
• [New] Achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is a daunting challenge, and will require a significant expansion of clean energy sources, including nuclear power. Mirage News
• [New] Germany's industrial base will have been helped by the fact that the price of natural gas in Europe has remained around its post-Ukraine invasion lows following a mild winter. Investec
• [New] MENA has excellent potential for low-carbon energy through renewables (mostly solar), and through a geological and industrial endowment suited for carbon capture, storage and use (CCUS). SpringerLink
• [New] Several of the countries that are on track to meet their targets have NDCs that lead to emissions in 2030 emissions that are substantially higher than their current policies. The PBL Climate Pledge NDC tool
• [New] Risk for widespread U.S. measles transmission remains low because of high population immunity. Centers for Disease Control and PRevention
• [New] BMW has announced its intention to use Green Steel (from Swedish steel manufacturer, H2 Green Group) in its cars, aiming to reduce up to 95% of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. Hfw
• [New] In fiscal year 2024-25, 60% of households in Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Manitoba will pay more in carbon taxes than what they receive in rebates, after accounting for both direct and indirect costs of the carbon tax. The One Hundredth Monkey
• [New] Green hydrogen has the potential to reduce GHG emissions in multiple sectors in Atlantic Canada and as a flexible energy carrier it can allow for deep decarbonization scenarios. EverWind Fuels
• [New] A 10% increase in remote workers could lead to a 10% drop in carbon emissions from the transportation sector, or nearly 200 million tons of carbon dioxide a year across the U.S., thanks to fewer car trips. phys.org
• [New] The Bali Roadmap argues in favour of the immediate scaling up funding for the development of clean energy technologies, helping stakeholders across Indonesia navigate the clean energy transition, with the ultimate goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060. Eurasia Review
• [New] Ontario will engage with jurisdictions leading in low-carbon hydrogen to share best practices, collaborate on areas of mutual interest, promote current actions and attract future investment. Ontario.ca
• [New] Ontario will assess potential barriers to the use of hydrogen as a fuel for electricity generation and the inclusion of low-carbon hydrogen and renewable natural gas in Ontario's natural gas distribution system, while ensuring appropriate standards and best practices are in place. Ontario.ca
• [New] Ontario will share technical information, including from research studies, with industry to support the production and use of low-carbon hydrogen in industrial sectors when and where it makes sense as the best pathway to meeting their decarbonization goals. Ontario.ca
• [New] Ontario will continue to use the modelling tool currently used by the federal government to assess the GHG GHG emissions of hydrogen production pathways throughout their lifecycle, known as GHGenius. Ontario.ca
• [New] Ontario is promoting its existing low-carbon hydrogen strengths, needs and opportunities to the federal government to leverage potential resources. Ontario.ca
• [New] Other regions have potential as low-carbon hydrogen hubs and Ontario has engaged in preliminary research to evaluate potential opportunities, along with the federal government's Hydrogen Strategy, which is also looking to identify potential hubs for Canada. Ontario.ca
• [New] Working together with Ontario businesses and industrial partners, the federal government, municipalities, Indigenous communities, academic institutions and other key stakeholders, we are going to connect Ontario with global markets to develop an economically sustainable low-carbon hydrogen sector. Ontario.ca
• For South Africa and its peers in the Global South, the unique opportunity to leapfrog into the forefront of the digital economy would transform economies, create jobs, and, most importantly, offer a pathway out of poverty for millions. I by IMD

Last updated: 14 April 2024