Energy Leaders Discuss the Clean Energy Pathways and
Net-Zero Perspectives in IICEC's Latest Webinar
IICEC hosted its 9th online event in its webinar series entitled "Future of NetZero Emission in the World & Europe and Implications for Turkey" on July 9. With a broad range of participants, the webinar opened with three keynote speeches and included a high-level panel session on business perspectives on a clean energy future.
Click here to watch the record of the Webinar : https://iicec.sabanciuniv.edu/event/iicec-webinar-future-netzero-emission-world-europe-andimplications-turkey
During the opening speech of the webinar, Kıvanç Zaimler, Member of the IICEC Board of Directors, highlighted that net-zero emissions have become an agenda focus both
globally and specifically amongst Turkey’s trading partners, and that this trend would reshape the energy sector. He continued: “Currently, global and regional dynamics come to the forefront in this very strategic
sector as well as in its related sectors. It is important to create value for all the stakeholders of the energy sector by managing risks and turning them into opportunities. We are here to discuss an important subject.”
Dr. Birol: "The path towards Net-Zero is extremely narrow and challenging, but not impossible."
Kıvanç Zaimler's opening speech was followed by Dr. Fatih Birol's keynote speech. The Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) pointed out that the energy industry accounts for 80% of the emissions that cause climate change, underscoring that the solution must come from this sector. Dr. Birol also remarked that the world cannot reach Net-Zero by 2050 if it fails to achieve decarbonization until 2040.
Noting that Net-Zero is not just a matter of civil society and academics, Birol underlined the key role for policy and business perspectives: “Awareness is rising quickly and irreversibly. Climate change has been proven scientifically and is now an integral part of public opinion. Currently, all developed countries have already committed to Net-Zero by 2050. Some European countries even put this objective as part of legislation. We are always asked whether it would be possible to achieve this energy transformation globally or not. Our answer is clear: The path is extremely narrow and challenging, but not impossible."
“We need to accelerate the innovation of
technologies.”
While the presence of close international cooperation is essential, so are two essential developments, according to Dr. Birol: "Firstly, existing proven technologies that are currently on the market in solar, wind, hydro, energy efficiency, nuclear, and EVs in particular must grow substantially to 2050. But these alone will not be enough. We need to accelerate the innovation of three particular technologies that are either not currently feasible in the market or still in their developmental phases: hydrogen, advanced battery technologies, and carbon capture."