P4G Summit: 100% clean power is the key to carbon neutrality

This briefing by Ember analyzes the implications of the International Energy Agency's (IEA) 'Net Zero by 2050' report for the 2021 P4G Seoul Summit, arguing that achieving 100% clean power is a necessary precursor to broader carbon neutrality.

• The IEA's 'Net Zero by 2050' pathway requires the power sector to transition from being the largest source of CO2 emissions in 2020 to becoming the only sector that is 100% clean by 2040. To align with the 1.5-degree goal, global CO2 emissions must decrease by 38% by 2030, with coal power accounting for 54% of that required reduction.
• For P4G countries to meet net-zero milestones, they must immediately cease all investments in new coal mines and power plants. The recommended timeline includes phasing out coal power in OECD countries and all inefficient coal power globally by 2030, with 100% clean power achieved in OECD countries by 2035 and globally by 2040.
• P4G member countries are heavily reliant on fossil fuels, which provided approximately 70% of their combined electricity in the previous year. Seven of these nations had fossil fuel shares exceeding the 2020 global average of 61%. Specifically, Bangladesh, Mexico, and the Netherlands relied heavily on oil and gas, while South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam, and South Korea relied on coal.
• The P4G countries possess a combined coal fleet of approximately 151 GW, with two-thirds being sub-critical plants. About 80% of this sub-critical capacity is located in emerging and developing economies, specifically South Africa (36 GW), Indonesia (25 GW), and Vietnam (12 GW), suggesting a need for bespoke governmental climate financing to facilitate a rapid shift from coal.
• Significant coal power capacity remains under construction across several P4G nations: Indonesia (11 GW), South Korea (7 GW), Vietnam (7 GW), Bangladesh (5 GW), and South Africa (4 GW).

APA

Lolla, A. (n.d.). P4G Summit: 100% clean power is the key to carbon neutrality. Ember. https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2024/11/Ember_Mini-briefing_What-IEA-netzero-means-for-P4G-summit.pdf

Chicago

Lolla, Aditya. P4G Summit: 100% clean power is the key to carbon neutrality. Ember, n.d. https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2024/11/Ember_Mini-briefing_What-IEA-netzero-means-for-P4G-summit.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Lolla |first1=Aditya |title=P4G Summit: 100% clean power is the key to carbon neutrality |publisher=Ember |url=https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2024/11/Ember_Mini-briefing_What-IEA-netzero-means-for-P4G-summit.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{lollandp4g, author = {Lolla, Aditya}, title = {{P4G Summit: 100\% clean power is the key to carbon neutrality}}, institution = {Ember}, url = {https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2024/11/Ember_Mini-briefing_What-IEA-netzero-means-for-P4G-summit.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }