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Paths towards decarbonising various sectors of the economy fall into six distinct categories, coded A–F in the graphic.

Decarbonization refers to the process of reducing or eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from the economy.¹ The ultimate goal is Net Zero – a state where any remaining emissions are balanced by an equivalent amount of carbon removal.

Energy efficiency

Reducing the amount of energy required to achieve the same result. Examples include thermal insulation for buildings, or waste heat recovery in factories. Electrification also drives efficiency, as electric motors waste far less energy as heat than internal combustion engines.

Electrification

Replacing fossil-fuel-burning equipment with electric alternatives. Most road transport can switch to electric vehicles (EVs), while heat pumps can replace gas boilers in homes and industry. This strategy is most effective when the electricity comes from clean sources.

Clean energy production

The global power sector is undergoing a massive transformation. In 2004, wind and solar provided less than 1% of global electricity; today, they provide nearly 20%. When combined with nuclear, hydro, and biomass, low-emission sources now account for over 40% of global generation.² This shift is making it possible to gradually phase out coal and gas power plants or use them only as back-up sources. Reaching 100% requires expanding energy storage (batteries), strengthening transmission grids, and increasing demand flexibility.

Changes in fuels and technologies

In sectors where electricity isn’t practical (like long-haul shipping or aviation), a transition to low-emission fuels like green hydrogen, methanol, ammonia, or advanced biofuels are an option. Innovations in production processes include modifications to cement compositions, the use of hydrogen in iron production, or regenerative and precision farming in agriculture. Reducing methane emissions – by fixing leaks in fossil fuel infrastructure, improving livestock management, and capturing gas from decomposing organic waste – remains one of the highest-impact near-term measures given methane’s potency as a greenhouse gas.

Carbon management and removal

• Mitigation: Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) involves trapping CO₂ at the source (like a factory chimney) before it reaches the atmosphere, and pumping it underground.
• Carbon dioxide removal (CDR): This involves taking CO₂ out of the atmosphere. Natural methods include reforestation and soil restoration. Technological methods include Direct Air Capture (DAC), enhancing ocean alkalinity or biochar production, though most of these technologies remain expensive to scale.

Changes in consumer behaviour

Individual choices can significantly reduce emissions. The highest-impact shifts include:

• using public transit
• adopting electric vehicles or opting for active travel (walking/cycling)
• reducing air travel
• adopting plant-based diets
• insulating homes or installing residential solar rooftops

These changes often provide co-benefits, such as improved public health and reduced urban congestion.

Footnotes

1. Data on global greenhouse emissions in sectors come from the EDGAR 2025 dataset: EDGAR (Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research) Community GHG Database, a collaboration between the European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), and the International Energy Agency (IEA). European Commission, JRC (Datasets). [https://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/report_2025] ↩

2. International Energy Agency (2025). Global Energy Review 2025. ↩