A call for zero emissions

The author calls for a transformation of the energy economy to achieve zero net emissions, noting that current country pledges are insufficient to maintain the 2°C temperature ceiling. The proposed action agenda includes implementing carbon taxes or emissions trading systems, phasing out fossil fuel subsidies—which total hundreds of billions of dollars annually—and resolving inconsistent government policies that discourage business investment in green technologies.

• Current national pledges to reduce emissions by 2020 are insufficient, estimated by UNEP to cover only between 25% and 50% of the effort required to keep the global average temperature increase below 2°C.
• The transition to a low-carbon economy is hindered by 'carbon entanglement,' where governments rely on oil and gas rents for revenue, the profitability of carbon-intensive technologies over low-carbon ones, and the availability of unconventional fossil fuels like shale gas in the United States.
• Fossil fuel subsidies represent a massive financial burden and an inefficient tool for poverty reduction; OECD member countries provide US$ 55-90 billion annually, while the IEA estimates US$ 544 billion in subsidies for consumers in emerging and developing economies.
• A 'credibility gap' exists because inconsistent and retroactively changed government policies make businesses reluctant to invest in greener technologies.
• Climate-related disasters demonstrate significant economic and human costs, such as Hurricane Sandy costing the United States approximately 0.5% of its GDP and the vulnerability of developing countries highlighted by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

APA

Gurría, A. (2014). A call for zero emissions. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/call-zero-emissions-climate-bailout-ooption/

Chicago

Gurría, Angel. A call for zero emissions. World Economic Forum, 2014. https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/call-zero-emissions-climate-bailout-ooption/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Gurría |first1=Angel |title=A call for zero emissions |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=24 January 2014 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/call-zero-emissions-climate-bailout-ooption/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{gurra2014call, author = {Gurría, Angel}, title = {{A call for zero emissions}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2014}, month = jan, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/call-zero-emissions-climate-bailout-ooption/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }