RESEARCH AND ANALYTICS

It would be no surprise to anyone that in the global pursuit of a “net zero world”, one of the most important sectors that needs to decarbonize is the power sector. It would be crucial to track the greenhouse gas emissions from this sector and ensure we are making progress. And looks like we are.

In 2020, the US power sector had already reached the half-way mark in the “zero emission” journey. In 2005, the US government, private sector, and research communities had projected CO₂ emissions from the US power sector to reach ~3,000 MMT by 2020 from 2,400 MMT in 2005. In contrast, the CO₂ emissions in 2020 were 1,450 MMT, which were ~52% lower than projected. So, what caused this transformation?

Well, in addition to technological improvements and policy initiatives, one of the main drivers was a focused switch from coal-fired to gas-fired power generation. This resulted in 70% lower consumption of coal and 112% higher consumption of natural gas in 2020 vs. projected. Another major factor was the stellar growth in usage of renewable sources like solar and wind, which generated 79% more power in 2020 than projected earlier.

While this development is clearly encouraging, the world needs ongoing investments and constructive policy changes to increase the share of wind, solar and other renewables in power generation. What do you think?

Given that on-road vehicles are responsible for 75% of the total CO₂ emissions of the global transport, a massive shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) seems inevitable. However, are EVs themselves ‘fully’ green? For instance, if coal-powered electricity is used in charging, it raises environmental concerns. Or, if raw materials like cobalt and lithium are being used in batteries, they are often linked to environmental and human rights issues. So how would an EV buyer know if they are choosing the ‘greenest of the green’?

This is where the ‘green score’ comes in. Independent research firms like The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) assess traditional, plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles and assign this ‘green score’. It is based on the Environmental Damage Index (EDX) that reflects the cost to human health from the air pollution associated with manufacturing of the vehicle, production and distribution of energy sources and tailpipe emissions!

So, what do you think? Will car-buyers seriously consider the green score in the purchase process? If so, will ‘greenness’ be the new tool of premiumization in the auto industry? Let us know.

Did you know that the pair of jeans you just bought needed 10,000 litres of water for production? A quantity, it might have taken you 10 years to drink? Shocking, right? Then what exactly is the solution to this massive wastage?

Well, the answer is staring right in our faces i.e., circular fashion economy.

Growing environmental awareness has brought the USD 3 tn global fashion industry in the limelight. The industry is responsible for 4-10% of annual global CO₂ emissions. This is even higher than the combined carbon output of the aviation and shipping industry. Besides greenhouse emissions, the industry is also impacting the environment in different ways, e.g., it uses over 93 mn cubic meters of water and produces 20% of global wastewater from dyeing or treating fabrics annually. The industry aims to reduce carbon emission down to an ambitious 1.1 bn metric tons of CO₂ equivalent, by 2030, less than half of what it is today.

To meet the target, not only the industry, but consumers too need to embrace better fashion ‘sense’ that is mindful of sustainability. The apparels should be designed with optimum utilization of resources in mind, preferably biodegradable and recyclable. Additionally, consumers need to change their consumption patterns when it comes to sustainable clothing. If a person reuses or upcycles an apparel instead of purchasing a new one, it helps the cause immensely.

Fashion is a great feel-good, but we need the planet to thrive to be able to survive — the choice is quite simple really.

The time is now. Reuse. Recycle.