The Breakthrough Agenda Report 2024
Overview
The Breakthrough Agenda Report 2024, a collaborative effort between the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, focuses on accelerating sectoral transitions through enhanced international collaboration. The report covers six major emitting sectors: power, hydrogen, road transport, steel, cement, and buildings.
Key Findings
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Progress in Clean Energy Deployment
- Rapid acceleration in clean energy deployment, with significant growth in technologies like solar PV, wind, electric vehicles, electrolysers, and batteries.
- Approximately two-thirds of global energy spending is expected to go towards clean energy technologies in 2024.
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International Cooperation
- Moderate progress has been made in some sectors, particularly in hydrogen and road transport.
- Stronger international collaboration is needed in other sectors, including coordinated R&D, harmonized standards, market creation, infrastructure deployment, financing, and technical assistance.
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Climate Goals and Challenges
- Meeting internationally agreed climate goals, such as tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030, requires rapid and deep emission reductions by the end of this decade.
- While many clean energy technologies are already cheaper than fossil fuel-based options, others require further technological maturity to achieve cost competitiveness.
- Building supporting infrastructure and supply chains takes time, which is crucial but limited.
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Opportunities and Recommendations
- International cooperation is essential to ensure a faster, cost-effective, and more accessible and inclusive transition to lower-emission technologies.
- Practical and actionable recommendations are provided to make clean technologies and sustainable solutions the most affordable, accessible, and attractive option in key sectors by 2030.
Conclusion
The report underscores the importance of leveraging international cooperation to accelerate the clean energy transition and highlights the need for continued engagement among governments, businesses, and civil society organizations to implement these recommendations.
Authors and Contributors:
- Principal Authors: José Miguel Bermúdez Menéndez, Chiara Delmastro, Jean-Baptiste Le Marois, Luis Munuera, Andrew Ruttinger, and Tiffany Vass.
- Contributors: Carl Greenfield (IEA) and Kapil Narula (CCT).
- Design and Direction: Timur Gül (IEA) and Simon Sharpe (CCT).
- Strategic Guidance: Araceli Fernández Pales (IEA).
Disclaimer:
The report does not necessarily reflect the views of the IEA Secretariat or the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions. The IEA, UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, and their officials, agents, and data or other third-party content providers make no representation or warranty, express or implied, in respect to the report's contents and shall not be responsible or liable for any consequence of use of, or reliance on, the report and its content.