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Rail
Country and regional highlights
Europe targets modernisation of the rail network and India rapid electrification, while China is expanding its network with a focus on high-speed rail
CO2 emissions
Rail is the least emissions-intensive mode of passenger transport – its expansion will help reduce overall emissions
Energy
Expansion of electric trains continues rapidly in the NZE Scenario, particularly to replace diesel-powered freight trains
Activity
Innovation
Policy
Acknowledgements
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Paper
Country and regional highlights
There is growing ambition on electrifying heat in the European paper industry
CO2 emissions
Emissions intensity has seen a decade of reductions, but further effort is needed going forward
Energy
Further energy efficiency improvements and fuel switching are needed to get on track with the Net Zero Scenario
Activity
While production has been relatively flat over much of the past decade, growth in emerging economies may drive a moderate increase in the coming years
Policy
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Data Centres and Data Transmission Networks
CO2 emissions
Data centres and data transmission networks are responsible for 1% of energy-related GHG emissions
Energy
Strong efficiency improvements have helped to limit growth in energy demand from data centres globally
Activity
Emerging services and technologies such as streaming, cloud gaming, blockchain, artificial intelligence, machine learning and virtual reality are poised to boost demand for data services
Renewable energy
Policy
Private sector initiatives
Acknowledgements
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Electrification
Country and regional highlights
Electrification gains momentum across countries and sectors
CO2 emissions
In the Net Zero by 2050 Scenario, from now to 2030 most electrification-related emission reductions occur in transport
Energy
The share of electricity in energy demand will need to increase by 4% per year to get on track with the Net Zero by 2050 Scenario
Technology deployment
New cars and new houses are the main areas for deployment of electrification technologies
Policy
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Digitalisation
Country and regional highlights
Countries are increasingly preparing their infrastructure for digitalisation
Energy
Digital technologies can help increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions across the energy system
CO2 emissions
Digital technologies are directly responsible for around 2% of energy-related GHG emissions today
Technology deployment
Deployment of smart meters and connected devices continues to grow
Investment
Investment in digital grid technologies accelerated in 2022
Policy
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Aviation
Country and regional highlights
Political agreement on net zero targets for aviation has been complemented by fiscal and regulatory policies to promote sustainable aviation fuels
CO2 emissions
CO2 emissions from aviation have reached 90% of their pre-Covid-19 peak
Energy
Improvements in energy intensity have not been sufficient to counterbalance energy demand growth in recent years
Activity
Passenger activity has nearly closed the gap with pre-Covid levels
Technology deployment
Innovation
Policy
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Steel
Country and regional highlights
Near zero-emission projects advance fastest in Europe, with some progress for low-emissions facilities globally
CO2 emissions
The CO2 emission intensity of steel has been relatively stable in recent years, but needs to drop significantly to align with the NZE Scenario
Energy
A reduction in reliance on coal and an increase in electricity use are required to get on track with the NZE Scenario
Activity
Material efficiency strategies are required to balance demand growth
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Building Envelopes
Stronger efficiency is the first and best policy to bring down energy bills
Variations in energy efficiency exist both within and among countries. For example, in some European countries with similar climates it can take twice as much energy to heat the same floor area or within one country the energy consumed between the most efficient and least efficient homes for a given size can vary by a factor of up to three.
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Chemicals
Country and regional highlights
Important steps to deploy low-emissions chemicals production technologies are being taken in several regions
CO2 emissions
CO2 emissions must decouple from production by 2030 to get on track with the NZE Scenario
Energy
Energy consumption for feedstock will continue to rise with production, but process energy intensity declines rapidly in the NZE Scenario
Activity
Primary chemical production is set to keep growing in the NZE Scenario
Innovation
Supporting infrastructure
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Cement
Country and regional highlights
Major policy developments of the last year hold promise for reducing emissions from the cement sector and increasing public procurement of low-carbon concrete
CO2 emissions
Cement emissions remain stubbornly high – the development and deployment of new technologies is essential to get on track with the NZE Scenario
Energy
Activity
Technology deployment
Innovation
Supporting infrastructure
Policy
International collaboration
Private sector strategies
Acknowledgements