Unilever’s Post

In 2023, the global energy sector was responsible for over 40 billion tonnes of CO₂ emissions. To put that in perspective, China alone contributed 12.6 billion tonnes, accounting for nearly one-third of the world's total. That's more than the entire Western Hemisphere and Europe combined! 🙇🏻♀️ Despite investments in renewables, fossil fuels like coal and oil remain dominant, especially in Asia Pacific, where emissions continue to rise. For instance, India plans to double coal production by 2030, increasing its share of global emissions to 10%! On the bright side, Europe has actually cut its carbon emissions by a remarkable 5.3%! This is a HUGE step forward, and it proves that shifting to cleaner energy and living more sustainably is possible. Europe shows us what can be done. How can we learn from Europe's success and apply those lessons worldwide? What innovative solutions and policies can we adopt to build a cleaner, greener future for everyone? #Sustainability #EnergyTransition #ClimateAction #CarbonEmissions #CleanEnergy #Renewables

GOVERNMENTS ARE ACTING 🚀   This is not simply wishful thinking. More than 30 governments across the world are considering commitments not simply to reduce emissions, but bring them to net zero. The UK and France have legally committed to do so by 2050, with Sweden by 2045, while Australia and China have developed policy documents for reaching the target. And governments have acknowledged hydrogen will have a key role to play, not only as fuel with specific end uses, but also as means of moving energy. 🌍 The world’s major energy consumers, in other words, is fully committed to shifting towards hydrogen as the means to tap into renewable energy. Corporates are following🔄 Government investment will certainly not be enough on its own, but this stimulates private investment, which will in turn drive technological breakthroughs. Government backing will also mean that green hydrogen projects are built at previously unprecedented sizes, generating economies of scale and helping to push down the price of the clean fuel. This is exactly what we witnessed in the renewable energy sector in recent decades, as investments in technology and operating at scale gradually pushed down the cost of generating electricity from solar and wind to a point where both are competitive with fossil fuels and often, in areas of abundant sunshine or wind, far cheaper. 🌳 The path is clear and governments and companies are already taking strides down it. The hurdles will be cleared, just as they have been for renewable energy over past decades.   For your curiosities and much more; www.fuzyonh2.com   #fuzyonhydrogen #hydrogenenergy #energy #renewableenergy #government #greenhydrogen #cleanfuel 

While it is still easy to criticize the continued Chinese commitment to #coal plants what many are missing is their incredible investment in #renewableenergy and its supply chain - which has now become a major driver of economic growth. And crucially for the fight against #climatechange this world beating surge in renewables is pulling forward by years their peak emissions. Good news by any measure. #climatecrisis #energytransition #stopburningstuff #solarpower #windpower #batterystorage

Europe’s carbon market is off to a rough start this year, with the worst performance since 2016. The rapid expansion of renewables has resulted in lower demand for fossil fuels, causing a drop in the price of carbon permits. However, the good news is that consumers are turning to solar panels as an alternative, with a record-breaking 51 gigawatts of installations in 2021, up 87% from the previous year, according to BloombergNEF. This is a significant step towards reducing pollution and limiting exposure to high power prices. Lower carbon prices could also ease the burden on European politicians and provide companies with an opportunity to decarbonize or purchase permits more affordably. #renewableenergy #carbonmarket #sustainability

WHAT WE VALUE - ENERGY PT 2 The Energy We Need: Challenges and Opportunities in the Global Transition This is part two of our #WhatWeValue series focusing on Energy. In part one, we discussed the ongoing global energy transition. Today, let's delve into the challenges and opportunities we face. Challenges: 1. Hydrogen Hype: While hydrogen is touted as an "emissionless" fuel, the reality is more complex. High production and infrastructure costs, coupled with limited proof of its superiority to alternatives, have led to project cancellations. 2. Energy Storage Hype: Similar to hydrogen, some proposed energy storage solutions like modular PSH and underground air/fluid compression lack strong technical validation and are not financially viable. Opportunities: 1. Ending Fossil Fuel Subsidies: The oil & gas industry receives a staggering $7 trillion annually in subsidies (7% of global GDP in 2022 - Source: IMF). Eliminating these subsidies would not only free up resources for the energy transition but also send a powerful message. Political leaders need to take action on promises made at #COP26 and redirect these funds towards accelerating the energy transition. 2. Cost Savings and Reduced Emissions: China, a global leader in renewable energy, has seen significant cost reductions due to their focus on renewables. This shift not only benefits the economy but also helps to meaningfully mitigate against the growing risks of runaway climate change. 3. Efficiency: As public awareness of climate change grows (with May marking the 12th consecutive month of record-breaking temperatures), people are demanding action. This public pressure will drive the shift towards a cleaner energy future. Additionally, focusing on energy efficiency through advancements like HVDC cables, electric vehicles and using electricity to power industrial processes will further reduce our reliance on polluting and inefficient primary energy sources, such as oil & gas. The takeaway? The transition to a clean energy future requires addressing challenges like unsustainable solutions and outdated subsidies. It also presents exciting opportunities for cost savings, reduced emissions, and a more efficient energy system. Public pressure will be a key driver for change. What are your thoughts on the opportunities and challenges in the global energy transition? #CleanEnergyTransition #RenewableEnergy #ClimateChangeSolutions #Sustainability #EnergySecurity #Innovation #FutureofEnergy #PublicPolicy #ClimateAction #WhatWeValue

The energy transition clearly has a long way to go, but we do need to remind ourselves that progress is being made. Based on the International Energy Agency (IEA)’s ‘CO2 emissions 2023 report’ published last month, advanced economies saw a record decline of ~4.5% in their emissions - falling to their lowest levels in fifty years. This was despite global emissions rising by ~1.1%. A great example is in the US, where coal-to-gas switching was the largest driver behind emissions reduction in the electricity sector in 2023 (see graph below). This was due to coal generated electricity decreasing by ~20%, while gas generated electricity grew by ~6%. Importantly, renewables deployment also played a significant role in reducing US electricity sector emissions. When we consider the primary role of coal in many developing economies, gas combined with renewables has the potential to play a major role in reducing global emissions. That’s not to say it’s the only solution - the transition will need many. But, the all too polarised debate continues to seek winners (good) and losers (bad) irrespective of the role they can and are playing today. https://shorturl.at/gxKS3 #netzero #energytransition #decarbonisation

From Global Goals @GlobalGoalsUN · Progress on basic energy access reverses for the first time in a decade, according to a new United Nations Report. 🔌 685 million people live w/o electricity and 2.1 billion rely on damaging cooking fuels. Urgent action is needed to achieve SDG7 (Energy) by 2030. https://lnkd.in/gHtnarrh #fuels #electricity #UN #energy

I really enjoyed working on this report (link below): The REN21 Global Overview of the Renewables 2024 Global Status Report (GSR 2024). The figures are really intuitive and they tell diverse stories. But the main story is that we are burning more #coal #oil and #gas and consuming more energy than ever! How many of us take conscience of the planet's finite resources and choose to lead sustainable lifestyles and consume less? Youth are not wrong in doubting politicians promising change in global events. There are more commitments, targets and policies to support renewables but these are relatively easy steps to take, what is needed is concrete action. Of all the countries that set targets, only china is on course to meet them. Investments in #renewables are really low in developing countries. Only 17.7% of global investments go to Africa, Asia (excl. China) and Latin America & Caribbean, although two-thirds of the world population live in these regions. Cost of renewable energy projects are also very high in low-income countries, where cost of capital can reach more than 10% compared to 4% in high-income countries. This points to the fact that we live in a very unequal world. This report sounds the alarm that system change should not remain rhetorical. All hands must be on deck to change gears towards a more equitable, just and sustainable world where everyone can thrive and prosper. https://lnkd.in/dWy67Td4

Great news on #ClimateChange! China is exceeding its goals on curbing greenhouse gas emissions and is set to export its technological success to accelerate return on their investments. The country's massive rollout of renewable energy is accelerating, with investments in the sector growing so large that international climate watchdogs now expect China's greenhouse-gas emissions to peak years earlier than anticipated! Last year alone, China installed 217 GW worth of solar power, a 55% increase, more than the total installed solar capacity of the U.S. Wind-energy installation additions were 76 gigawatts last year, more than the rest of the world combined. That amounted to more than 20,000 new turbines! Let's keep moving forward towards a greener future! It's now the rest of the world's turn to deliver and take action on their promises at COP28 UAE and World Economic Forum in #davos. #renewableenergy #sustainability

China’s commitment to clean energy has led to a record increase in capacity in just six months, matching the UK’s total electricity output for a year. This remarkable growth in renewables, particularly solar and wind, is reshaping China’s energy landscape and potentially marking a peak in the nation’s carbon emissions. This development could play a pivotal role in global climate efforts. #CleanEnergy #China #ClimateAction