Full Title: How Can North America Achieve Net Zero Carbon? A Siemens Energy View
Author(s): Reuters Events, Siemens Energy
Publisher(s): Reuters Events, Siemens Energy
Publication Date: September 20, 2021
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
Humanity faces what is likely the biggest challenge in history. Without rapid action to curb carbon emissions, there will be environmental impacts of huge concern. The most important will include reduced snow and polar ice, leading to rising sea levels and increased coastal flooding and erosion. There will also be extreme weather events, with more precipitation leading to flooding in some places—while there is severe drought in others.
Meanwhile, more extreme heat waves will also bring a greater risk of forest fires. Secondary impacts from these changes include loss of species because of their inability to adapt to changing habitats, as well as more exposure to disease and invasive species. Human health will also be affected. There will be greater risks of death from dehydration, heat stroke, and respiratory, cardio-vascular and waterborne diseases. Various industries will be impacted as well, from agriculture to transportation infrastructure.
The only way to avert these outcomes is to eliminate carbon as far as possible from global energy systems. And North America must play a key role in this process, not only because the region is the world’s second-largest emitter, behind Asia, but also because the United States has long championed the carbon-based economy now wreaking havoc with the climate.
This paper, developed with input from several senior Siemens Energy executives, looks at the current state of energy transition policy in the United States and Canada, and what key approaches need to be considered on the road to low-carbon operations.