Workshop

In the lead up to COP28, particularly with the global stock take underway, it becomes important to consider additional indicators and targets toward the achievement of an inclusive transition to climate neutrality. We would like to discuss, if this could deliver a set of benefits:

First, many climate targets only monitor broad sectoral level emission reductions. They focus on the political discussions on the efforts or burden required for emission reductions, rather than on the opportunities, for example of modernization of industry with circularity and clean processes to enhance resilience and job security, improved housing with insulation and modern heating systems, or attractive transport and urban developments with a shift to electric mobility and public transport.

Second, emission targets may not provide sufficient information to policy makers and societies about progress in the green transition because not all sensible climate policy measures reduce emissions directly. For example, to create the conditions for significant emission reductions through renewable energy, infrastructure like transmission lines need to be expanded and storage capacity and load-shifting capacity is required.

Third, measures that reduce emissions in the short term might not be fully compatible with climate neutrality. In the building sector, simple renovations reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the short term, but more extensive renovations are necessary later on. Thus, this short-term measure is not optimal in the medium term.

Building on recent work by DIW Berlin, Ecologic, and Client Earth, practices established by the UK Climate Change Committee, and global tracking such as the IEA Tracking Clean Energy Progress reports, and as part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) project “Strengthen national climate policy implementation” (SNAPFI) we want to explore the idea of supplementary indicators to climate targets. How would they be formulated to be effective and attractive to support an inclusive and just transition to climate neutrality in different countries?