Sustainability

WHAT'S NEXT?: Preparedness and mitigation plans to increase resilience and reduce economic impact will be crucial over the coming years.

• [New] Emissions from the energy sector due to primary energy intensity and inefficient applications in the end use sector (SDG 7.3) Goal 7.3 strives for doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030.
• [New] With climate change in the headlines and the UK Government committing to a 'Net Zero' carbon target for the UK by 2050, today UK aviation has come together to reaffirm its commitment to a sustainable future.
• [New] In the UK, where the aviation market is relatively mature, demand for aviation is still expected to grow by around 1-3% annually to 2050, while global growth rates are 4-5% per annum, easily outstripping ICAO' s' s aspirational target of annual 2% efficiency gains until 2050.
• [New] Nation-wide adoption of state-level energy efficiency commitments: Washington, Colorado and Hawaii have joined states like Vermont in setting energy and water efficiency standards for a range of appliances that will save residents more than $3 billion on their utility bills over the next 15 years.
• [New] $1 million spent on fossil fuels in the U.S. will generate 2-3 full-time equivalent jobs, while $1 million spent on renewable energy or energy efficiency will create 7-8 jobs.
• [New] In the Sustainable Development Scenario, electricity is one of the few energy sources that sees growing consumption in 2040 - mainly due to electric vehicles - alongside the direct use of renewables, and hydrogen.
• [New] Sustainable Development Scenario, the world will still be consuming large volumes of hydrocarbons in 2040, and natural gas in particular.
• [New] The United Nations is now spearheading a massive movement to define new goals up to 2040, with equity and sustainability as the central themes.
• [New] In 30 years the global rate of waste production will be double the growth rate of the population.
• Use of platooning has the potential to greatly increase fuel efficiency, reduce carbon emissions for trucks and improve safety.
• A scenario with 1.5% annual fuel efficiency gains in the US would mean $3,200 in additional fuel costs for a model year 2026 vehicle, and about $300 billion total net cost for consumers for 2021-2035 vehicles compared to the rising Obama-era rules.
• ABB's deep expertise in electric vehicle charging, combined with Porsche's legacy of high-performance is a winning formula to revolutionize sustainable mobility, and will pave the way for Japan to meet its ambitious zero-emissions commitments.
• Without intervention, 50 countries will fail to achieve the United Nation's (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of zero hunger by 2030.
• The European Investment Bank (EIB) has unveiled a new energy lending policy that will stop all financing for fossil fuel projects at the end of 2021 and unlock €1trn in sustainable development over the next decade.
• In the absence of new technologies, energy efficiency will need to deliver around 40% of emissions reductions by 2040 for emissions pathways to remain consistent with the Paris Agreement (IEA, 2018), making it equally important as renewables in delivering the necessary emissions abatement.
• The United Nations has a goal to halve food loss and waste by 2030, which like many other countries, New Zealand has also adopted.
• By 2025 South Africa alone could create 462,000 additional jobs by going green, including in clean energy generation, energy efficiency, pollution control and natural resource management.
• While the STEPS maps a future where renewables meet half of the increase in demand to 2040, and the pace of growth slows due to shifting economic factors and energy efficiency, it remains well short of putting a cap on global CO2 emissions.
• Global oil demand growth is expected to slow from 2025 as fuel efficiency improves and the use of electrified vehicles increases but is unlikely to peak in the next two decades.
• The world is not currently on track to meet Sustainable Development Goal 7, which calls for ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030.
• The draft Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2040 and Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 will be in tandem with national aspirations, vision and the sustainable development goals (SDGs 2030).
• Agricultural development and environmental sustainability in Saudi Arabia will receive a boost in the coming years, thanks to a new agreement between the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture in Dubai and the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
• By 2030, university campuses will have changed and should be aligned with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, adopted in 2015 by all UN Member States.

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Last updated: 07 December 2019