The Decarbonisation theme day at COP27 looks at the ways in which the most carbon-intensive industries can start to decarbonise. We've summarised our understanding of what the sessions will consider and also tried to consider what decarbonisation might look like for us.
Father God – thank you for all the different forms of energy that you have given us and the way that being able to harness them has revolutionised the way people live and work. Give us the heart, mind and will to make wise choices.
Sovereign God, today we pray about an action that, until a few years ago, was unknown to us: the need to decarbonise. Through ignorance we have polluted the atmosphere of your world with greenhouse gases; and through negligence we have failed to recognise quickly enough the need to act. Forgive us.
Creator God, you have provided us with sun, flowing water, wind, tides, waves and a warm earth, all of which can be harnessed for clean energy. Thank you. Thank you also for the intellect of scientists and engineers who have designed systems to create electrical power from these sources and to convey this to our places of need.
Redeeming God, convict us where we need to compromise; show us those parts of our lives where we take more than we need and prompt us to change. Saving God, hold our neighbours whose lives are affected by fuel poverty and those in Ukraine whose energy supplies have been decimated by war.
Jeremiah 32: 17-19 (NIV)
Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the parents’ sins into the laps of their children after them. Great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all [humankind]; you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve.
Colossians 1: 15-17 (NIV)
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
COP27 concentrates on the big carbon culprits:
Decarbonising high emitting sectors is critical to mitigate global warming. Three of the most carbon-intensive industries are the oil and gas sector, the cement industry and steel production. Their combined direct emissions represent more than 25% of global carbon dioxide emissions.
The steel, fertiliser and cement industries provide examples of a common dilemma with decarbonisation. They are all carbon-intensive industries, and additionally fertiliser manufacturing releases nitrous oxide (molecule for molecule about 300 times as potent as carbon dioxide at heating the atmosphere). However, all are essential to the development and improvement of living standards in the developing world. Innovative solutions are needed to enable Africa and the global south to access resources at an affordable cost while reducing carbon emissions.
Much of the world's recent discussions about oil and gas have focused on the carbon emissions from our use of them as a fuel. However the oil and gas industry's operational emissions are reported to account for more than 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions, so as well as the world transitioning away from our use of fossil fuels, the industry is working to decarbonise its own operations. The oil and gas industry also emits nearly one third of global anthropogenic methane emissions (with a global warming potential that is around 25 times greater than carbon dioxide).
And a little closer to home, the UK (including devolved administrations) has committed to achieving the Net Zero target by 2050 which means reducing carbon emissions to as low as possible and then compensating for the balance by offsetting .e.g. tree-planting or carbon capture and storage. To reach net zero we as individuals will have to make some significant choices about the way we live and unfortunately some of these changes come at a cost that some of us may struggle to afford without help:
use energy more efficiently e.g. insulate our homes, consider when we heat them and to what temperature we heat them;
make carbon-efficient choices - become carbon-savvy in our purchase;
make a choice for electrical energy over fossil fuel energy so that renewable energy sources can be used e.g. switch to an electric car, replace a gas boiler with ground/air source heating.
It's been difficult to quickly find concise information to poplulate this section. We know that industry in Europe, including the UK has been making meaningful movements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions via the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and the Climate Change Levy. But more is required.
We looked at primary energy sources in the UK and althought the figures vary according to source used, it is clear that the proportion of primary energy from renewable sources has risen significantly over recent years. In 2021 13.5% of the World's primary energy and 17.9% of the UK's was from renewable sources compared to 8.8% and 3.6% respectively in 2010 (Our World in Data). Again, even though more needs to be done, it's a good news story.
The Decarbonization Challenge: The opening session will share progress and identify new technologies for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors, focusing on the oil and gas, steel and cement sectors.
Accelerating the way towards Decarbonizing the Steel Industry: A session highlighting and encouraging increased support for the global initiatives to decarbonize the steel industry.
From Commitments to Action: The Oil & Gas Industry’s Decarbonization Journey: A session highlighting best industry practices including new technologies, and discussion about policy enablers that encourage the industry’s decarbonisation.
Towards a Decarbonized Fertilizers Industry Towards a Decarbonized Fertilizers Industry: A session discussing pathways to develop green fertilizers to sustain low-carbon, affordable and secure agriculture, especially in the developing world.
Advancing the Global Methane Pledge: 122 countries have now joined the Pledge, aiming to reduce methane emissions at least 30% by 2030. The session will focus on accelerating action to end methane venting and cut leaks in oil and gas operations including technology transfer, capacity building and finance.
Advancing Efforts in Decarbonizing Cement: A session bringing together cement producers at the forefront of decarbonisation efforts to showcase success stories, call for policy support and inspire further acceleration.
Forging Ahead: Supporting Low-Carbon Development Pathways for Africa and the Developing World: The final session focuses on supporting low-carbon development pathways for Africa and the developing world, acknowledging that the traditional resources used for development of housing and infrastructure - hydrocarbons, steel and concrete - are highly carbon-intensive.
Climate Change Committee, no date. Reaching Net Zero in the UK, on the Climate Change Committee website.
