Sep 30, 2021
By: Marcia SekhoseThe Energy Transitions Commission (ETC) has recommended six sets of action that would make it possible to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
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ETC recommends the ban of all sales of ICE light-duty vehicles by 2035 along with city-based action to reduce the use of these vehicles.
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Internal combustion engines (ICE) light-duty vehicles are powered by gasoline, diesel, biofuels, or natural gas.
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These vehicles produce gases responsible for global warming, and these include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O).
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In addition to the ban on the sale of these vehicles, the ETC recommends accelerating road transport electrification. “Within the next decade, shifting to passenger EVs will be a negative cost transition, delivering savings to consumers rather than additional costs,” the ETC said.
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According to the ETC, this move could lead to around 20 per cent of cars on the road being electric by 2030.
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It could also deliver around 2 GtCO2/year of reductions along with an “additional 0.6 GtCO2/year of savings possible from low or negative cost action to improve heavy-duty truck efficiency.”
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This is just one fraction of the plan to reduce global warming. The ETC recommends significant reductions in coal use, emissions from oil and gas leaks.
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It also recommends halting deforestation and starting reforestation, accelerating supply decarbonisation in buildings, heavy industries, and improving energy and resource efficiency.
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To achieve this target the ETC recommends that by 2030 we should reduce methane emissions by 40 per cent and carbon dioxide emissions by 45 per cent. The onus is on not just governments, financial institutions, industrial sectors but on individuals as well.
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