What does decarbonization mean?
The term decarbonization is based on the word "carbon", which means carbon dioxide orCO2 for short. Decarbonization describes the process of reducing our dependence on carbon by drastically reducing or completely avoiding CO₂ emissions.
The aim is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels such as coal, oil or natural gas and to create an economy based on low- or zero-carbon energy sources.
Why decarbonization is important
Decarbonization plays a crucial role in the fight against climate change. Only by reducing greenhouse gas emissions can the most damaging effects of the climate crisis be mitigated and global warming limited to 1.5 or 2 degrees according to the Paris Climate Agreement. At the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, 195 countries worldwide agreed to significantly reduce emissions by 2030 and to make the global economy sustainable. At the end of 2019, the Green Deal provided further impetus to make the European economy and industry climate-neutral by 2050 at the latest.
Which sectors have the greatest potential for decarbonization?
1. a large proportion of emissions are produced in industry, two thirds of which are energy-related. This proportion could be drastically reduced through the use of renewable energies and more efficient production processes. Residual emissions that are currently still unavoidable can be offset by climate protection projects.
2 In addition to industry, road traffic in Europe is responsible for around one fifth of EU emissions. Emissions there could be significantly reduced, for example by:
- Reduced traffic volume
- Shortened transportation routes
- Switch to alternative drive systems
- Compliance with emission guidelines
Further measures to decarbonize the transport sector include
- Reduction in passenger traffic
- Promotion of environmentally friendly means of transportation
- Reduction of freight traffic
- Expansion of e-mobility
3 The third sector with high CO₂ emissions is the building sector. In 2023 alone, the building sector in Germany was responsible for around 102 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions . Old buildings in particular have a negative carbon footprint. Measures to reduce emissions include, for example
- Energy-efficient modernization of buildings
- Convert heating systems (e.g. heat pumps or solar thermal systems)
- Convert remaining fossil heating systems to synthetic fuels
Guidelines and incentives for companies: How decarbonization succeeds
Companies can draw on various national and international guidelines to implement their decarbonization strategy. These guidelines include the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, the EU Taxonomy Regulation and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Governments and international organizations also offer financial incentives, research and development support and emission reduction targets.
Decarbonization is a necessity for companies
Politicians, private individuals, scientists: they all recognize the need for decarbonization in companies. The fact is that the climate targets cannot be met without the contribution of industry. Companies that push ahead with decarbonization now not only secure their future viability, but also benefit from competitive advantages and the growing trust of their stakeholders.
Planted: The solution for sustainable decarbonization
Once you have identified the largest sources of CO₂ with our TÜV-certified CO₂ balance sheet, Planted's software solution offers you targeted options to effectively reduce these emissions. With science-based targets, you can minimize up to 93% of your emissions across all locations and implement your decarbonization strategy centrally. Are you interested? We look forward to hearing from you.