The study “Decoupling greenhouse gas emissions from economic growth” commissioned by the Heinrich Böll Foundation examines the developments over the period 1990-2014.
In the past, energy consumption increased along with global economic performance. In 2014, greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector fell for the first time while the economy grew.
Within the framework of the present expertise for the German Wind Energy Association and Deutsche Messe AG, DIW Econ prepared an assessment of the macroeconomic employment effects of the energy transition. For this purpose, on the one hand the positive economic employment impulses of the energy transition through the expansion of renewable energies and through energy efficiency measures were worked out, and on the other hand, adverse effects in the area of the conventional energy industry and in other economic sectors were contrasted with the positive effects.
published as DIW Berlin -Politikberatung Kompakt 93
A Macro-Analysis of Economic and Political Challenges of the ‘Energiewende’ (Energy Transition)
With the goal of limiting the rise in global temperature to two degrees relative to preindustrial levels, the global community agreed to try to halve GHG emissions (vis-à-vis the level in 1990) by 2050. In order to achieve this ambitious target, developed countries ought to contribute profoundly to the reduction of GHG emissions by 80% to 95% in 2050 compared to their 1990 level.