Action on decarbonization could signal a paradigm shift in the fight against climate change.

What is decarbonization and why is it important? As the world continues its fight against climate change, decarbonization is one word that appear in our daily preposition when discussing climate change, not for anything but for a good reason. 

What is decarbonization and why is it important? As the world continues its fight against climate change, decarbonization is one word that appears a lot, and for a good reason.  Decarbonization refers to actions aimed at reducing CO2 emissions caused by human activity. Human activities remain the highest source of increase in greenhouse emissions. Hence, any move to arrest the impact of climate change must start with decarbonization. 

Actions on decarbonization, The 2015 Paris Agreement prioritized decarbonization. It set as a goal of limiting global warming to below 2°C or 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels. Since then, many other initiatives have come up to support the decarbonization drive as a fight against climate change. One such initiative is the Net Zero initiative. It was launched in 2022 at the COP27. Since then, the Net Zero initiative has been clear on its goal. To counterbalance greenhouse gas emissions by an equal amount of emissions reduced by 2050. The announcement led to more government participation in the fight against climate change.  It has flown a bit under the radar. Yet, there was a significant development at the World Economic Forum, DAVOS 2023. 9 industry clusters in Europe joined the Transitioning Industrial Clusters towards the Net Zero initiative. 

The World Economic Forum’s First Movers Coalition also announced that the concrete and cement industry will be joining the coalition. The concrete and cement industry accounts for around 7% of global emissions. This is significant, It signals that many high-impact industries are beginning to commit to decarbonization. Noteworthy is the fact that the first movers' coalition launched with 25 members in 2021, making 65 registered Members. They have made significant progress within 2 years of operation. The significance of this latest announcement is that by committing to decarbonization, industries with high environmental impact are showing the desired seriousness needed to move the needle. It is a step towards the right direction. The coalition has also set a decarbonization goal for heavy and long-distance transport sectors. Both sectors contribute around 30% of global emissions. Beside bringing them onboard, they are committing $12 billion to buy green technologies. These actions will help decarbonize the cement and concrete industries. With many climate change initiatives, there is always a danger of falling into the buzzword trap. Stakeholders talk up these words but come up with little or no action, as the wise say "Talk is Cheap". It seems like this is different, and there is a renewed commitment toward decarbonization goals. 

Conclusion; We know that the fight against climate change is not an easy task. Every action aimed at mitigating the climate challenge comes at a cost. Hence, it is a fight that requires genuine commitment and radical action (all hands on deck). And these actions must start at the very top. There are indications of a shift in mentality as world leaders recognize that it is no longer business as usual. Key industry players are starting to back up their words with action, and this could create a multiplier effect that will lead to everyone else playing their part. This kind of collective action the world needs to be sustained if we are to win the fight against climate change. The announcements at the recent World Economic Forum show that we are projecting the right steps. Away from buzzwords and conferences, the major stakeholders are beginning to act, It bodes well.

Edited by: Muhammad Abdullahi Ibrahim

https://www.threads.net/@muhammadabdullahiib?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==