PwC’s climate change analysts estimate global economies need to cut their energy-related carbon emissions for every $ of GDP by 6.2% every year from now to 2100. That’s more than five times the rate currently achieved. The reduction target is an estimate of how much countries need to reduce their energy-related emissions by, while growing their economy, in order to limit global warming to 2°C. A rise of temperature of 2°C of warming is the limit scientists have agreed upon to ensure the serious risks of runaway climate change are avoided.

For the sixth successive edition of the PwC analysis, the Low Carbon Economy Index, 2 degrees of separation – ambition & reality, finds that the reduction target of the global carbon intensity (greenhouse gas emissions per $GDP) has been missed. The gap between what countries are doing and what needs to be done continues to grow.

Current total annual energy-related emissions are just over 30 GtCO2 and rising, on the back of a GDP growth of 3.1%. In the same period, carbon intensity was reduced by only 1.2%, a fraction of what was needed. As a result, the global challenge going forward is tougher than before, averaging 6.2% every year, to 2100.

More details about this study in the document below.