Chemicals sector faces transition dilemma
Transitioning to low-carbon is complicated but represents huge opportunities for the sector, says new report
The chemicals sector could grow annual production by a factor of 2.5 by 2050 while still being aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement, according to a study by consultancy Systemiq. But the sector is lagging on its commitments to decarbonise and is expected to be one of the slowest industries to transition. “The chemicals industry is a complex industry—there is a lot of different parts and processes to it,” report co-author Alexandre Kremer tells Transition Economist. “It is not easy for regulators to get moving and find consensus.” The chemicals sector represents just under 4pc of the 59gt of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. If the industry continued to scale up at its current
Also in this section
19 December 2024
The utility-scale battery energy storage system market is evolving rapidly, with diverse offtake models emerging to offer bespoke, flexible contracting solutions
13 December 2024
Prices in world’s largest compliance market have risen this year but remain below those seen in the EU
11 December 2024
Policymakers need to step up with a long-term, global strategy if the energy transition is ever to be a success
11 December 2024
CCUS and other carbon management technologies are gaining traction around the world, but heightened policy risk and other pressures will make 2025 a challenging year in some regions