![]() ![]() ![]() For example, GDP per capita in the United States is around 45% higher today than in 1990. Almost all countries are becoming wealthier in real terms. These lower lifetime CO 2 footprints between generations do not result from decreases in material well-being and economic opportunities. With a lower starting point in emissions per capita, much smaller changes are needed across generations. In our Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario, the lifetime CO 2 footprints of individuals born in the United States or European Union in the 1950s will be around 15 times greater than the footprints of their descendants born in the 2020s.īy comparison, the lifetime CO 2 footprints of Indian individuals born in the 1950s will be only 3.5 times greater than those of their descendants born in the 2020s, while in China they are 4 times greater. North America, Europe vs India, ChinaĬountries with historically high per capita emissions, such as in North America and Europe, need to achieve much larger generational reductions than countries with historically low per capita emissions, such as India. ![]() Generation Z, born between 19, would average 110 tonnes of CO 2 over their lifetimes if the world manages to reach net zero by 2050. In other words, the average Baby Boomer – defined by the Pew Center as individuals born between 19 – would emit 10 times more in their lifetime than the average member of Generation Alpha, which refers to those born today or in the coming years. Babies born in the 2020s would emit on average a mere 34 tonnes of CO 2 each in the net zero scenario. In the IEA scenario where the world manages to reach net zero emissions by 2050, the average person born in the 1950s would emit 350 tonnes of CO 2 over their lifetime. The metric draws on historic emissions and population data from the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA’s) medium-variant projections. “Lifetime CO 2 footprint”, as used in this commentary, measures the energy-related CO 2 emissions of an average individual over the course of their life. To show how these changes affect us as individuals, we calculated the average lifetime CO 2 footprint according to a person’s year of birth. Calculating the average lifetime CO 2 footprint by year of birth In the Roadmap’s pathway, almost half of the emissions reductions in 2050 rely on technologies that are still in the early stages of R&D today. Key milestones include quadrupling the amount of solar PV and wind power capacity added each year by 2030, improving the energy intensity of the world economy by 4% each year this decade, and electrifying wide swathes of the economy such as cars, heating in buildings, and industrial motors. The IEA’s Roadmap to Net Zero by 2050 identifies essential conditions for the global energy sector to reach net zero emissions by 2050, including changes in technology and lifestyle. It is an achievable but immensely challenging undertaking. This goal – which offers the world a fighting chance of limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 ☌ and avoiding the worst effects of climate change – requires a total transformation of how we produce, transport and consume energy. ![]() They also note how much more engaged today’s young people are with climate change policy compared to their predecessors, and urge governments and business leaders to harness their willpower to ensure the transition happens successfully.Ĭhildren born today will emit 10 times less carbon during their lifetimes than their grandparents if the world achieves the goal of reducing global emissions to net zero by 2050. But the authors alert us to the total transformation of how we produce, transport and consume energy as well as the radical behaviour change we’ll need to meet the net zero goal. That said, there should be no decrease in material well-being, as the world economy should double in size by 2050. Babies born in the 2020s would emit on average only 34 tonnes of CO2 in their lifetime. Taking the two extremes, the average person born in the 1950s would emit 350 tonnes of CO2 over their lifetime. Laura Cozzi, Olivia Chen and Hyeji Kim at the IEA summarise how they have calculated the average allowable lifetime CO2 footprint by year of birth. In rich countries it’ll be fifteen times, while in emerging economies like India and China it’ll be around four times smaller. To reach net zero by 2050, babies born today must have CO2 footprints ten times smaller over their lifetimes than their parents and grandparents. ![]()
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