The current level of innovation is insufficient to meet the carbon neutrality goals. The report "Research and Innovation for Climate Neutrality by 2050: Challenges, opportunities and the path forward" addresses this issue.
The ability to reach climate neutrality by 2050 directly depends on the ability to innovate. However, the current level of innovation is insufficient to meet the net-zero challenge.
This acknowledgment underpins the report “Research and Innovation for Climate Neutrality by 2050: Challenges, opportunities and the path forward”.
The document, released in March 2023 by the European Commission, aims to provide policy recommendations regarding the design, principles, and solution landscapes to accelerate the transition to net-zero emissions. In doing so, it focuses on R&I areas where significant investments are needed to achieve maturity, commercialisation, and adoption in the coming 10-20 years.
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 removal nexus
The role of positive-energy buildings
Within the nexuses, energy-positive districts and communities are presented in the report to illustrate how a mission-driven approach and a human needs agenda can be combined. The report points out the relevance of research and innovation in the realm of energy communities within the EU to shift toward a sustainable and decentralized energy infrastructure. Enabling local communities to produce and distribute renewable energy, in fact, fosters emission reduction and energy independence.
However, technical, economical and regulatory barriers might slow down the processes. Moreover, societal acceptance is crucial, as the concept of community energy is based on the inclusion of citizens in both the establishment of the community and the
decision-making process. Continued efforts in these fields will be essential for unlocking the full potential of energy communities and speeding up the transition to a sustainable and decentralized energy framework in the EU.
Click here to download the report
Photo credits: Nerea Martí Sesarino on Unsplash