Growth-positive zero-emission pathways to 2050

Growth-positive zero-emission pathways to 2050

Sitra
Type
Author
Paul Drummond, Daniel Scamman, Paul Ekins (UCL)
Leonidas Paroussos (E3-Modelling)
Ilkka Keppo (UCL and Aalto University)
Publication Date
April, 2021
Country
Finland
Language for original content

Sitra commissioned this study to investigate whether and under what assumptions and policy measures the decoupling of CO2 emissions from economic growth could occur at a sufficient rate for CO2 emissions to decline to net zero by 2050. The analyses were carried out on a global level.

The results of this study show that deep CO2 emission cuts in line with the 1.5 °C target and positive GDP growth can occur at the same time.

A natural next step would be to analyse in detail the decoupling of other harmful environmental impacts from economic growth. For example, a global shift to more circular business models could reduce CO2 emissions and help cut the use of materials and natural resources while maintaining economic growth.