Princeton, Worley Plot Faster US Net-Zero Emissions Path by 2050

摘要

In an Aug. 5 report, Princeton University and Australian engineer Worley Ltd. urge key changes to "develop and deliver immense and unprecedented" infrastructure to reach U.S. net-zero carbon emissions targets by 2050. Achieving that is technically feasible and affordable, but "incremental" project delivery fixes will be insufficient, their analysis says. The analysis comes as the latest U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, a 4,000-page review released on Aug. 11, warns that without action now to reduce emissions, the average global temperature would reach or exceed the 1.5°C warming threshold compared to pre-industrial levels within 15 to 20 years, or even as soon as 2030. Energy sector emissions are projected to rise 7% in 2021, fueled by post-pandemic economic activity and more coal use, particularly in power generation, due to high natural gas prices, the U.S. Energy Dept. announced Aug. 10.