The IPCC's third sub-report, together with two previous and a forthcoming synthesis report, will be the sixth IPCC assessment report since 1990. It provides decision-makers with a vast toolbox for meeting the Paris Agreement's targets for global temperature changes of 1.5 °0C or just below 2 °C.
The third sub-report comes from Working Group III. They have conducted a scientific assessment of how greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced and how more CO2 can be sequestered in biosystems. The report focuses on how technologies and changes in economics and behaviour can help reduce greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.
Professor Kirsten Halsnæs from DTU - leading coordinating author of the third sub-report - says it is still possible to avoid a global temperature rise of over 1.5-2 °C. Renewable energy, especially wind and solar energy, has become much cheaper. They are now competitive technologies compared to fossil sources. But at the same time, further research is needed in technologies such as CO2 capture and storage, power-to-X and batteries.
There is also a need for research into the economics and societal aspects of implementing the enormous changes needed to implement the significant greenhouse gas reductions required to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Impetus to research and development
Research has played a crucial role in the IPCC report coming up with such positive conclusions about options for action.
"It is partially thanks to Denmark's extensive research and development in wind energy, which is a competitive technology today. This makes wind energy one of the crucial prerequisites for achieving Denmark's climate goal of being climate neutral by 2050. Also regarding the global goal of keeping the global temperature rise below 1.5-2 °C," says Kirsten Halsnæs, and continues:
"Of course, we must continue research and development in renewable energy sources. But the technologies we have today are not enough. We must give even more impetus to the research and development of other much-needed technological breakthroughs. This is especially true of CO2 capture and storage to reduce emissions. We need far more efficient batteries to power both passenger and freight transport. And then it's about power-to-X, which we need to convert our excess renewable energy into, e.g. new, synthetic fuels for aircraft and ships," says Kirsten Halsnæs.
At DTU, research is still being done today on wind and solar energy. In part how these sustainable but also fluctuating energy sources can be utilized in the best possible way in a future energy system based solely on renewable energy.
In addition, many DTU researchers are in the process of developing precisely the newer necessary technologies that are highlighted in the IPCC report. Read more on this theme page about the IPCC report. There is also contact information on DTU's experts in CO2 capture and storage, batteries, power-to-X and smart energy systems.
