Sustainability

WHAT'S NEXT?: Preparedness and mitigation plans to increase resilience and reduce economic impact will be crucial over the coming years.

• [New] Based on International Energy Agency's (IEA) sustainable development scenario, global solar PV capacity will reach 4814 GWs in 2040 from 495 GWs in 2018, adding 196 GWs per year on average.
• [New] Sustainable infrastructure will provide the second highest return of all asset classes (behind renewable energy) between today and 2030 in a world transitioning to net zero emissions 50.
• [New] The Industrial Energy Accelerator - an initiative supported by the GEF and led by UNIDO - is one of six programs launched by Sustainable Energy for All, which aim to double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030.
• [New] The global drive to provide universal access to sustainable and modern energy by 2030 is creating numerous opportunities for energy users and suppliers.
• To support a global move towards sustainable food systems the EU will: - Promote sustainable food systems during international events (e.g. UN Convention on Biological Diversity in 2020, UN Summit on Food Systems in 2021).
• At global level, it is estimated that a food and agriculture system in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) could create new economic value of more than EUR 1.8 trillion by 2030.
• Through the modelling conducted by E4Tech, the ramp-up of sustainable aviation fuel production in the UK could give greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions savings of up to 2.8 million tonnes CO2e in 2035 in 2035 compared to a business-as-usual scenario where no sustainable aviation fuel is produced.
• The growing export market for sustainable aviation fuels is worth up to an additional £1.952bn to 2035 and bringing the full value to the UK of £2.7bn from UK production and global exports.
• By 2035 the development of a domestic industry to produce sustainable fuels could generate a Gross Value Added (GVA) of up to £742m annually.
• Sustaining the decrease in emissions seen this year will require increasing investments in zero emissions capacity and increasing energy efficiency.
• ADB's recent report Meeting Asia's Infrastructure Needs calculates that developing Asia needs investment of $1.7 trillion per year until 2030 to build infrastructure of sufficient quality and resilience to withstand the impacts of climate change.
• The European Green Deal's Investment Plan - the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan - presented today will mobilise public investment and help to unlock private funds through EU financial instruments, notably InvestEU, which would lead to at least €1 trillion of investments.
• By using the IoT to reduce asset losses and improve efficiency, Australian companies could save AU$ 4.3 billion per year.
• Initiatives like the new kerbside collection bins launched by the New Plymouth District Council in September last year aims to move to zero waste by 2040 and give households more sustainable ways to get rid of their waste which would otherwise be destined for landfill.
• Rising global initiatives to improve product application efficiency and reduce the impact of nutrient losses to the environment will further increase the fertilizer market share in the coming years.
• The increasing threat of climate change has engendered a rapid response in Europe with the EU pledging €1 trillion to decarbonise the economy and to establish a sustainable EV industry and associated supply chain.
• Solar system prices will continue to become cheaper over the next decade, driven by advances in module efficiency, manufacturing, labour practices, and software.
• Building on the 2020 climate and energy package, the European Council recently adopted the 2030 climate and energy framework, which sets a target of a 40% reduction in GHG emissions compared with 1990 as well as renewable energy and energy efficiency targets of at least 27% by 2030.
• Etihad Airways has targeted zero net carbon emissions by 2050, with Qatar Airways stating that the sustainability spotlight should be on fuel and engine suppliers, and Emirates saying the job of reducing carbon emissions for the airline industry will not happen overnight.
• In the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Government is pushing for implementation of the common vision that the Nordic region will become the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by 2030.
• Fannie Mae was once again the largest single issuer of green bonds, with approximately $19 billion of new bonds issued, which will fund energy and water efficiency retrofits to multifamily properties across the U.S.
• This year, the United Nations launches the Decade of Action towards achieving its Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

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Last updated: 04 April 2020