04 Mar 2024
EC publishes report on R&I for climate neutrality by 2050
The European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation has published a new report on 'Research and Innovation for Climate Neutrality by 2050: Challenges, opportunities and the path forward'. The report, which was released on 4 March 2024, aims at providing policy recommendations regarding the design, principles and solution landscapes needed for a long-term, forward-looking R&I agenda to accelerate the transition to net-zero emissions. Through a methodological approach which combines literature review, climate neutrality scenarios analysis, foresight workshops and stakeholder engagement, the report focuses on broad high-risk (not yet close to market) R&I areas where significant investments are needed today to achieve maturity, commercialisation, and adoption in the coming 10-20 years.
The report advocates moving beyond the paradigm of individual technologies and embrace a systemic approach by focusing on goal-oriented R&I interventions, as well as considering how systemic interactions of climate mitigation approaches can be better integrated in the development of R&I programmes (thus considering socio-economic and technological challenges and opportunities, regulatory barriers/needs, enabling conditions and positive tipping points). To that end, the report identifies key R&I areas under 17 solution landscapes grouped under three key nexuses for climate neutrality, to better integrate systemic interaction of climate mitigation approaches in the design of R&I agendas:
- Mobility – Built environment – Energy nexus
- Circularity – Industry – Carbon removals and capture nexus
- Agrifood – Carbon removals nexus
In addition, the report:
- Highlights some of the opportunities, barriers, and risks of general-purpose technologies (such as AI, synthetic biology, blockchain) in accelerating the net-zero transition.
- Underlines the increasing importance and significant innovation efforts needed over the coming decade regarding carbon dioxide removal solutions.
- Advocates the need for the EU to prioritise actions with key third countries to create competitive advantage across the international value chains emerging from the green transition.
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