Scaling Up Energy Efficiency

UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre

This podcast by the Copenhagen Centre on Energy Efficiency promotes the ongoing work and research on energy efficiency through discussions with experts from various sectors, such as buildings, district energy, and datacentres. You will hear experiences and case studies from our global network of experts and we aim to help you understand them. If you want to learn more about energy efficiency or discover related projects, this is the podcast for you!

  1. 18/01/2023

    Informed decision-making on portfolio decarbonisation using GHG accounting and lifecycle analysis

    Problem: Today’s podcast will explore the application and use of carbon footprint calculations, that is GHG accounting and lifecycle analysis, with Vanja Wylie. In today’s talk, we will discuss, among others, how to GHG accounting can inform decisions on energy efficiency. Key message: Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a systematic, standardised approach to quantifying a product's or system's potential environmental impacts. GHG Accounting is more narrow in its assessment of environmental impacts in that it quantifies the total greenhouse gases produced directly and indirectly from a business or organisation’s activities. Both are increasingly popular among financial and other organisations in making informed decisions on the sustainability of investment portfolios. Data gaps aggravate this and are particularly pertinent in developing countries, but solutions exist. In making decisions on energy efficiency, especially in weighing options, GHG accounting can help take a full lifecycle perspective that accounts not just for energy performance and operational carbon but also material and production carbon intensity and what is referred to as embodied carbon. Speakers: Elisabeth Resch, Vanja Elizabeth Wylie Support: Aristeidis Tsakiris https://c2e2.unepccc.org/kms_object/informed-decision-making-on-portfolio-decarbonisation-using-ghg-accounting-and-lifecycle-analysis-podcast/

    21 min
  2. 15/07/2022

    Financing Energy Efficiency Investments

    Problem: It is a critical time for energy efficiency. Despite its recognised importance, improvements have fallen short of expectations. Energy efficiency increase amounted to only around 2% per year between 2011 and 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic further hit energy efficiency efforts hard. In 2020, improvements were estimated to be only 0.8%, which is substantially lower than the SDG target of 2.6% per year. The International Energy Agency finds that progress on energy efficiency globally recovered in 2021 to a pre-pandemic pace but remained well short of what would be needed to help put the world on track to reach net-zero emissions by mid-century. The inadequate improvements stem from insufficient energy efficiency investments, despite the ostensibly strong business case for energy efficiency. While wind and solar power investments have increased substantially, energy efficiency investments have not grown at an equal pace. Global investments in energy efficiency have not risen significantly in recent years. Key message: A path towards reaching net zero emissions by 2050 requires total annual investment in energy efficiency worldwide to triple by 2030. Financing energy efficiency investments must be feasible and include a broad set of instruments, including equity-based financing. Speakers: Elisabeth Resch, Alexander Ablaza Support: Aristeidis Tsakiris https://c2e2.unepdtu.org/kms_object/financing-energy-efficiency-investments-podcast/

    24 min

About

This podcast by the Copenhagen Centre on Energy Efficiency promotes the ongoing work and research on energy efficiency through discussions with experts from various sectors, such as buildings, district energy, and datacentres. You will hear experiences and case studies from our global network of experts and we aim to help you understand them. If you want to learn more about energy efficiency or discover related projects, this is the podcast for you!