Net-Zero Emissions by 2050: Environmentally Thoughtful, But Not Economically Possible
Although global decarbonization by 2050 is a worthy goal, unless we can chart a technologically, politically, economically, and environmentally feasible path, pursuing this goal on such an aggressive timeline will result in the misallocation of capital.
In this paper, we discuss the challenges that make net-zero by 2050 unlikely, examining them from three different perspectives:
- The basic necessities of life: Power, housing, and food
- The assets required to facilitate the infrastructure needed for the energy transition
- The hearts, minds, and behaviors of people