The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has released its flagship report titled, ‘Global Renewables Outlook: Energy Transformation 2050.’ It features a policy framework that supports the decarbonisation of the global energy system through 2050. In its ‘Deeper Decarbonisation Perspective,’ the report explores decarbonisation options for more challenging sectors such as shipping, aviation, and heavy industry, with a view to lowering carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions to zero. The report notes that addressing these challenges in the near term will be critical to reaching net-zero emissions in the second half of the century.

With regard to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the report’s foreword notes that government stimulus packages will likely shape societies and economies for years to come. It therefore highlights the importance of aligning these responses to the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. Per the text, “stimulus and recovery packages should accelerate the shift to sustainable, decarbonised economies and resilient inclusive societies” with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) forming the backbone of COVID-19 response.

The report goes on to review energy transformation through a regional lens. Beyond previous studies, it provides a “vision for transformative energy policies as the conduit to the creation of a deeply decarbonised global society.” The publication’s key findings focus on the specific transition prospects for 10 regions globally. Overall it finds that:

• Energy-related CO₂ emissions have risen by 1% per year on average since 2010;
• The transition to renewables, efficiency, and electrification can drive broad socio-economic development;
• The last portion of CO2 emissions will be the hardest and most expensive to eliminate, meaning innovative technologies, business models and behavioral changes will be needed to reach zero emissions;
• Decarbonising energy use in time to avert catastrophic climate change requires intensified international co-operation; and 
• Recovery measures following the COVID-19 pandemic could include flexible power grids, efficiency solutions, electric vehicle charging, energy storage, interconnected hydro-power, green hydrogen and other technology investments consistent with long-term energy and climate sustainability.

The report is accompanied by a Summary and a digital story titled, ‘Beyond crisis: Renewable energy for a low-carbon future.’ [Publication: Global Renewables Outlook: Energy Transformation 2050]