Just released: our ( @REN21) new report with @IRENA and @IEA shows the urgency of decarbonising the heating and cooling sector with #renewables.

Here’s a short summary thread. (1/12)

Download the report here: https://bit.ly/36jtd2g 

As it stands, only around 11% of heating/cooling needs are met by modern #renewables.

Problematic, because H&C is around half of the energy we use today. It is three-quarters of energy used in buildings. Any transition to #netzero will need to address this sector. (2/12)

People often associate renewable energy with the #climatecrisis.

Yes, renewables can reduce emissions, but they provide a host of other benefits as well.

Let’s look at one: air pollution. (3/12)

91% of people in #cities are regularly subject to air pollution. In London, combustion from boilers is responsible for more than 21% of NOx emissions.

Renewables (electricity – #heatpumps, #solarheat, geo, bioenergy and #DHC) can reduce this. (4/12) https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54634166

Energy access is another key driver. 2.8 billion people, more than one-third of the globe, lack access to #cleancooking solutions.

Some of these needs are still met by the unsustainable use of biomass, which leads to negative health and socio-economic consequences. (5/12)

Numerous barriers slow down the transition to renewable heating and cooling.

They range from the highest levels of policy making – where long-term decisions are made – to the lowest levels where homeowners are making individual purchasing decisions. (6/12)

The good news: solutions exist.

Renewable tech already are available to meet much of this need. And we know which policies can be immediately put in place to unlock all these benefits.

See the report for tons of examples. (7/12)

But there is a real lack of effective policies and even a stagnation in recent years. (8/12)

On the consumer side, only around 40% of energy use in buildings is covered by mandatory energy efficiency policies.

Using net-zero building codes means that levels of efficiency are maximized, while the remaining demand is covered by on-site or off-site renewables. (9/12)

For a heating and cooling transformation to happen, policies are urgently needed at all levels of government.

The technologies exist and policies are ready to be put in place. (10/12)

Unsurprisingly, we have a few policy recommendations!

These are just a couple I highlighted – there are many more throughout the report. (11/12)

And this is only scratching the surface of the report’s contents.

To read more, check out this article on the REN21 website: https://bit.ly/2JlnDDV 

Or download the report here: https://bit.ly/36jtd2g  (12/12)