Towards a low-carbon world

The aim of this theme is to study the long-term scenarios that are likely to bring about a reduction in the risk of extreme climate change impacts and, on that basis, to spark debate on the technological and social changes required, and the appropriate paths and public policy instruments needed to manage this change.

The European Dialogue coordinated by IDDRI during the last few years concluded with the adoption of the EU Climate and Energy Package in December. Alongside this dialogue, and with the support of the European Climate Foundation, IDDRI took the initiative to organise technical support sessions in five major subjects for the journalists covering the Climate and Energy Package negotiations:

• competitiveness and carbon leakage,
• moving from a 20 to 30% cut in emissions if an international agreement is reached,
• using the proceeds from auctioning allowances,
• carbon capture and storage
• links with forests and natural areas. 

The “Carbon constraint scenarios” initiative, jointly led since 2004 by IDDRI and the Entreprises pour l’environnement (EpE) association, yielded results in 2008. Due to an innovative hybrid modelling platform and a reiterate dialogue between researchers and industry, this initiative made it possible to identify a set of results concerning both climate policies in general and the economic response of industrial sectors, particularly the iron and steel industry, aluminium, cement and plate glass production, and the energy sector.

From the same perspective, a study of a scenario is currently being finalised in which residential sector carbon emissions are reduced by four in France by 2050. It was conducted as part of the Club Ingénierie Prospective Energie et Environnement (CLIP) coordinated by IDDRI, which brings together institutional representatives, research centres and industries. This study analyses sources of energy efficiency in the housing stock in reference to the objectives established by the “Grenelle de l’Environnement” (French multi-party debate on the environment) and details the conditions for their implementation.

Laurence Tubiana also takes part in Climate Group and its project Breaking the Deadlock, which aims to develop an international agreement on climate change.