Key results - OECD Europe

Moving from principles to action for energy supply that mitigates against climate change requires a long-term perspective. Energy infrastructure takes time to build up; new energy technologies take time to develop. Policy shifts often also need many years to take effect. In most world regions the transformation from fossil to renewable energies will require additional investment and higher supply costs over about twenty years

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regional results oecd europe development of CO2 emissions

development of CO2 emissions

While CO2 emissions in OECD Europe will decrease by 4% in the Reference scenario, under the Energy [R]evolution scenario they will decrease from around 3,800 million tonnes in 2009 to 192 million tonnes in 2050. Annual per capita emissions will drop from 6.8 tonnes to 2.9 tonnes in 2030 and 0.3 tonne in 2050. In spite of the phasing out of nuclear energy and increasing demand, CO2 emissions will decrease in the electricity sector. In the long run efficiency gains and the increased use of renewable electricity in vehicles will reduce emissions in the transport sector. With a share of 28% of CO2 emissions in 2050, the power sector will drop below transport and other sectors as the largest sources of emissions. By 2050, OECD Europe’s CO2 emissions are 5% of 1990 levels.