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2022 Breakthrough Agenda Report Summary

Core Content

The 2022 Breakthrough Agenda Report is a joint initiative by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions (UNCC HLC). It aims to accelerate the global transition to clean technologies and sustainable practices in five major greenhouse gas-emitting sectors: power, hydrogen, road transport, steel, and agriculture. The report outlines the current state of international collaboration in these sectors and identifies key areas for improvement to achieve the Breakthrough Agenda goals by 2030.

Main Goals and Objectives

The Breakthrough Agenda was launched at COP26 by 45 world leaders and is designed to make clean technologies and sustainable solutions the most affordable, accessible, and attractive than their alternatives in the five focus sectors by the end of this decade. The report serves as an annual assessment tool to track progress, identify urgent areas for coordinated action, and recommend steps to enhance international collaboration.

Key Sectors and Their Targets

1. Power Sector

• Emissions: Accounts for ~23% of global emissions (13 GtCO₂e).
• Goal: Reduce emissions by over 50% by 2030.
• Annual Reduction: 8% per year.
• Access: Achieve 100% electricity access by 2030.
• Investment: Reach USD 2 trillion per year in clean power investment by 2030.
• Priority: Strengthen international support for developing countries, improve access to clean power technologies, and coordinate demonstration projects for power system flexibility.

2. Hydrogen Sector

• Emissions: Accounts for ~1.5% of global emissions (0.9 GtCO₂).
• Goal: Scale up renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production to 140-155 Mt/year by 2030.
• Current: Less than 1% of hydrogen is produced from renewable sources.
• Priority: Increase market size through purchase commitments, improve trade and deployment standards, and expand demonstration projects with technical and financial support.

3. Road Transport Sector

• Emissions: Accounts for ~10% of global emissions (6 GtCO₂e).
• Goal: Reduce emissions by nearly 1/3 by 2030.
• ZEV Sales: Increase from ~9% (2021) to ~60% (2030).
• Priority: Align target dates for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), increase public charging infrastructure 10-fold by 2030, and harmonize standards to ensure sustainability in battery supply chains.

4. Steel Sector

• Emissions: Accounts for ~5% of global emissions (3 GtCO₂e).
• Goal: Reduce emissions by ~1/4 by 2030.
• Production Intensity: Global average direct emissions intensity needs to drop by ~30% by 2030.
• Priority: Increase joint procurement commitments, support commercial-scale pilot projects, and establish common definitions and standards for low- and near-zero-emission steel to facilitate trade and procurement.

5. Agriculture Sector

• Emissions: Accounts for ~17% of global emissions (10 GtCO₂e), with ~7 GtCO₂e from direct farm-gate emissions.
• Goal: Reduce farm-gate emissions by ~20% by 2030 and halt agricultural expansion.
• Priority: Improve access to finance for smallholder farmers, increase investment in resilient and sustainable agriculture technologies, and ensure international trade supports, rather than hinders, the transition.

Main Views and Recommendations

• Global Collaboration is Essential: The report emphasizes that international cooperation is critical to achieving the ambitious goals of the Breakthrough Agenda. It highlights that while progress is being made, it is not sufficient to meet the targets, especially in the context of rising global emissions.
• Need for Focused and Sustained Action: The report calls for more focused, sustained, and inclusive international collaboration. This includes greater participation from developing countries and more alignment of policies and standards.
• Accelerating Innovation and Investment: It stresses the importance of accelerating innovation, investment, and technology deployment to reduce costs and improve accessibility.
• Policy and Market Alignment: The report advocates for policy alignment, market signals, and economies of scale to drive the transition to sustainable technologies.
• Socioeconomic and Environmental Benefits: It outlines that stronger international collaboration could lead to 14 million additional jobs and prevent 2 million premature deaths from air pollution by 2030.

Key Collaborators and Contributors

• IEA, IRENA, and UNCC HLC are the primary organizations behind the report.
• Signatories: 45 countries and the EU, representing over 70% of global GDP.
• Contributors: A wide range of experts, governments, businesses, and civil society organizations contributed to the report through consultations and peer reviews.

Conclusion

The Breakthrough Agenda Report serves as a roadmap for global action to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy and practices. It underscores the urgency of the climate crisis and the importance of international collaboration in achieving the goals set by world leaders. The report highlights that without coordinated and sustained efforts, the transition to net-zero emissions may be delayed by decades. It calls for a collective, focused, and inclusive approach to make clean technologies more affordable, accessible, and attractive, ensuring that the global transition to sustainability is both rapid and equitable.