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Demand-side strategies enable rapid and deep cuts in buildings and transport emissions to 2050 (van Heerden et al., 2025)

The authors use an ensemble of global integrated assessment models to assess CO2 emissions reduction potentials in buildings and transport, accounting for system interactions. They focus on three intervention strategies with distinct emphases: reducing or changing activity, improving technological efficiency and electrifying energy end use.

date:  30/04/2025

The study finds that these strategies can reduce emissions by 51–85% in buildings and 37–91% in transport by 2050 relative to a current policies scenario (ranges indicate model variability). Electrification has the largest potential for direct emissions reductions in both sectors. Interactions between the policies and measures that comprise the three strategies have a modest overall effect on mitigation potentials. However, combining different strategies is strongly beneficial from an energy system perspective as lower electricity demand reduces the need for costly supply-side investments and infrastructure. Read report