Is a low-carbon economy achievable?

The author contends that a low-carbon economy is achievable through a combination of circular economy principles, targeted reduction of methane, and the establishment of a carbon price between €30 and €40 per metric ton to provide necessary financial incentives.

• The current high-carbon economy is driven by a linear 'extract, manufacture, dispose' model. Transitioning to a circular economy that turns waste into resources is a primary lever for reducing CO2 emissions; for instance, using recycled PET emits 70% less CO2 than producing virgin PET.
• Methane is a critical but overlooked pollutant that contributes 40% to greenhouse gases when calculated over a 20-year period. Targeting methane emissions is essential for achieving rapid short-term results in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Technical solutions for reducing emissions exist, including waste recovery for energy or materials, methane capture from organic waste for heat, biofuel, or electricity, energy efficiency, and non-intermittent renewable energy like biomass.
• A low-carbon economy requires a predictable carbon price of at least €30 to €40 per metric ton of CO2 to internalize external costs and ensure that polluters pay, as current systems provide no financial incentive to stop using the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas dump.

APA

Frérot, A. (2015). Is a low-carbon economy achievable? World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/economic-growth/low-carbon-economy-achievable/

Chicago

Frérot, Antoine. Is a low-carbon economy achievable? World Economic Forum, 2015. https://www.weforum.org/stories/economic-growth/low-carbon-economy-achievable/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Frérot |first1=Antoine |title=Is a low-carbon economy achievable? |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=10 December 2015 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/economic-growth/low-carbon-economy-achievable/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{frrot2015lowcarbon, author = {Frérot, Antoine}, title = {{Is a low-carbon economy achievable?}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2015}, month = dec, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/economic-growth/low-carbon-economy-achievable/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }