The Numbers Behind Achieving Net Zero: International Day of Climate Action 2025

Today, October 24, the International Day of Climate Action highlights the urgency of addressing climate change and the steps needed to secure a sustainable future. Achieving a net zero world—where the amount of greenhouse gases emitted equals the amount removed—is essential to limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. But what does it take to get there?

Let’s break down the critical numbers behind the global effort to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions

 Current Emissions: The world emits approximately 50 billion metric tons (gigatons) of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e) annually, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and other greenhouse gases.

Target: To achieve net zero, global emissions must be reduced by at least 90% by 2050, with the remaining 10% offset through carbon removal technologies or natural sinks.

Energy Transition

Renewable Energy Capacity: By 2050, renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower must account for at least 90% of global electricity generation. Currently, renewables supply only 29% of electricity.

Solar and Wind Growth: We need to install an additional 6,000 gigawatts (GW) of solar power and 8,000 GW of wind power globally to meet this goal.

This means adding around 500 GW of renewable capacity annually until 2050—more than double the current rate.

Fossil Fuel Reduction: Coal, oil, and natural gas must decline from providing 84% primary energy today to less than 10% by 2050.

Transportation

Vehicle Electrification: By 2050, approximately 2 billion electric vehicles (EVs) must replace internal combustion engine vehicles globally.

The current EV number is around 26 million, which means we need an annual growth rate of 40% over the next three decades.

Hydrogen-Powered Transport:

Heavy-duty vehicles, ships, and planes must adopt green hydrogen as a primary fuel source. This requires scaling hydrogen production to 500 million tons annually, compared to around 90 million tons today, most of which is not green.

Industrial Transformation

Steel and Cement: These two industries alone account for 14% of global CO₂ emissions. To achieve net zero:

Green hydrogen must replace coal in steel production.

Carbon capture technologies must be installed in 60% of cement plants by 2050.

Electrification of Heat: Industrial processes relying on fossil fuels must shift to electric systems powered by renewables, requiring significant investment in high-temperature heat technologies.

Agriculture and Land Use

Methane Reduction: Livestock and rice production account for nearly 60% of agricultural methane emissions. A 30% reduction in methane emissions by 2030 is critical, and it is achievable through dietary shifts, improved feed, and waste management technologies.

Reforestation: To offset emissions, the world needs to restore 1 billion hectares of forest by 2050—an area roughly the size of Canada. Reforestation and afforestation could sequester around 7 gigatons of CO₂ annually.

Carbon Capture and Removal

Technology Deployment: By 2050, we’ll need to capture and store at least 10 gigatons of CO₂ annually using carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies.

Currently, only 40 million tons are captured annually, meaning we need a 250-fold increase in capacity.

Direct Air Capture (DAC): DAC systems must scale to remove 1 gigaton of CO₂ per year by 2050. These systems operate at pilot scales, removing only thousands of tons annually.

Investment Required

Annual Investment: Transitioning to net zero will require approximately $4 trillion annually in clean energy investments until 2050.

This is nearly triple the global investment of around $1.3 trillion annually.

Cost of Inaction: Failing to act could result in climate-related damages costing the global economy $23 trillion annually by 2050.

Behavioural Changes

Energy Efficiency: A 4% annual improvement in energy efficiency is needed globally to reduce demand and emissions.

Dietary Shifts: Reducing meat consumption by 25% worldwide could significantly lower agricultural emissions.

Waste Reduction: Cutting global food waste by 50% could reduce emissions by over 2 gigatons annually.

A Call to Action

The numbers make one clear: achieving net zero by 2050 is an enormous challenge—but it’s possible with bold action, innovation, and global collaboration. Every sector, government, business, and individual has a role to play in reducing emissions and investing in a sustainable future.

H2GP Foundation: Educating for a Net Zero Future

At the H2GP Foundation, we’re equipping the next generation of innovators to tackle these challenges head-on. Through hands-on STEM programs like H2GP PRO, students:

Learn about hydrogen’s role in the clean energy transition.

Design and build renewable energy-powered vehicles.

Develop problem-solving skills to address real-world climate issues.

The future of climate action starts with education—and we’re committed to inspiring young minds to lead the charge toward a net zero world.

Join Us in Creating a Sustainable Future

Discover how the H2GP Foundation empowers students to become leaders in the fight against climate change at H2GP Foundation.

This International Day of Climate Action, let’s work together to turn these numbers into reality—one solution at a time.