CO2 emissions need to reach net zero by 2050 to limit global warming to 1.5°C
Climate change, driven by natural and human factors like fossil fuel use, agriculture, and deforestation, is altering global weather patterns and causing disruptions to water resources, ecosystems, and crop yields. Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, trap solar radiation, leading to global warming, especially in oceans. Scientific evidence indicates a higher risk of significant environmental changes if global temperatures rise beyond 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Since 1992, most countries have been part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, a treaty providing a framework for international cooperation for combating climate change. This was followed by the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 which commits its developed country Parties to internationally binding emission reduction targets, and the Paris Agreement in 2015 which sets out an international action plan to limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Achieving these targets requires systemic changes in global emission patterns. The energy sector can contribute through demand-side interventions, energy efficiency, flexible systems, and renewable energy sources to help mitigate climate impacts and limit temperature rise.
Learn more about climate change and emissions by exploring our Energy Insights.
For details on the progress in achieving the global and national climate change targets read the New Energy World analyses.
Discover UK energy professionals' views of the best measures to reach emissions targets by reading our annual Energy Barometer.
2023
was the warmest year on record since recordkeeping began in 1880 (NASA)
0billion
metric tonnes of ice per year on average was shed from the Antarctic ice sheet between 2002 and 2023 (NASA)
0%
of greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector in 2022 were CO2 emissions from energy combustion and industrial processes (IEA)
0%
increase in carbon dioxide emissions from flaring was seen from 2022 to 2023 (Statistical Review of World Energy)
What's new?
Canada sets goal of 5 GW of offshore wind by 2030, while US sector faces policy headwinds
6th August 2025
The government of Canada and the province of Nova Scotia have jointly designated the North Atlantic areas of French Bank, Middle Bank and Sable Island...
International Court of Justice publishes landmark opinion regarding climate change accountability
30th July 2025
Recognising the ‘urgent’ threat facing the world, the ICJ – in a unique unanimous statement by 15 judges – concluded that those suffering from human-c...
Going for gold: UK spin-out wins $1mn for cool technology
30th July 2025
Barocal claims its technology can ‘deliver up to three times the energy efficiency of traditional systems’ and also that it ‘eliminates harmful refrig...
Can AI growth and climate goals coexist?
23rd July 2025
With countries such as the UK declaring ambitious goals for both decarbonisation and AI leadership (with the AI Opportunity Action Plan), a new report...
NESO’s 25-year view maps potential UK energy transitions to net zero
23rd July 2025
One clear trend is the need for much more electricity; it expects electricity demand to increase from 290 TWh today to as much as 785 TWh by 2050. &nb...
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Technical guidance publications
EI 3570
Research report: Circular economy indicators, potential for use in the oil and gas industry (2nd edition)
June 2025
This report explores how to measure circular economy (CE) practices in the oil and gas (O&G) industry. Developed in partnership with Ipieca, it outlin...
EI 3588
Recommended practices for methane emissions detection and quantification technologies – upstream
May 2025
Responding to the continuous advancement of technology, the Energy Institute, Ipieca, IOGP, and OGCI have updated their guidance and online tool to su...
EI 1533 Quality assurance requirements for semi-synthetic jet fuel and synthetic blending components (SBC)
February 2025
EI 1533 provides essential quality assurance requirements and recommendations for the manufacture of synthetic (jet fuel) blending components (SBC), (...
EI 3579
Guidance on human factors in task-based risk assessment
January 2025
This publication is free of charge. Register/log in to access it.Although human factors and error-producing conditions may be considered during projec...
HM 29. Procedures for petroleum product cargo inspections
December 2024
HM 29 provides cargo measurement procedures for use primarily by cargo inspectors and specifies procedures directed at minimising cargo contamination ...