Enhancing NDCs and COVID-19 Recovery: Synergies in the Power Sector

This World Resources Institute expert note argues that COVID-19 economic recovery stimulus packages provide a critical opportunity for countries to align their recovery with ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the power sector. Noting that power generation accounted for 41% of energy-related CO2 emissions in 2019 (with coal contributing over 70%), the note emphasizes the need for a 4% annual reduction in power sector emissions to meet 2030 targets and suggests investing in climate-resilient infrastructure to prevent an emissions rebound following pandemic lockdowns.

• Power generation was responsible for 41 percent of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in 2019, with coal contributing more than 70 percent of those emissions. To achieve 2030 targets, power sector emissions need to decrease by an average of 4 percent annually.
• While COVID-19 lockdowns caused emissions to decline in 2020, the restart of economic activity risks an emissions rebound. Economic recovery stimulus packages present an opportunity to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure and low-carbon transitions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while recovering from the pandemic.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Enhancing NDCs and COVID-19 Recovery: Synergies in the Power Sector. https://www.wri.org/publications/enhancing-ndcs-covid-19-recovery-power-sector

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Enhancing NDCs and COVID-19 Recovery: Synergies in the Power Sector. n.d. https://www.wri.org/publications/enhancing-ndcs-covid-19-recovery-power-sector.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Enhancing NDCs and COVID-19 Recovery: Synergies in the Power Sector |url=https://www.wri.org/publications/enhancing-ndcs-covid-19-recovery-power-sector |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendenhancing, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Enhancing NDCs and COVID-19 Recovery: Synergies in the Power Sector}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/publications/enhancing-ndcs-covid-19-recovery-power-sector}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }