The United Nations Paris Agreement on halting global climate change calls for “keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.” (2 degrees Celsius is equivalent to 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit.)
Shell Oil recently released a provocative report on what might be required to accomplish this. Shell’s “Sky” document presents a scenario for decarbonizing the global economy. The goal is to achieve net-zero emissions from energy use by the year 2070. Among the things that would need to happen:
- People change their mindset to choose low-carbon, high-efficiency energy options.
- Nuclear power triples.
- Global electricity generation increases by five-fold.
- New energy sources increase by fifty-fold.
- Net-zero deforestation is achieved. In addition, an area the size of Brazil is reforested.
- 10,000 carbon capture and storage installations are built around the world.
Under this scenario, global oil consumption would begin to decline by 2030 and fall below current levels by 2040. By 2050, renewable energy would exceed fossil fuel use.
Shell admits that implementing this proposal would require “rewiring the whole global economy in just the next 50 years.” The question is: Does the world have the political will to make this happen?
Agilent recognizes the wide-ranging implications of climate change. We are at the forefront of addressing this critical global issue by helping customers around the world understand and measure the impact of climate change.
As a company, we are dedicated to sustainability for our products and our operations. We conduct business in a sustainable manner in every community in which we operate. We continue to undertake energy efficiency, with clean and renewable energy projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote environmental responsibility.
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