What is involved in decarbonizing the energy sector, and what strategies are key to achieving this goal?

Decarbonizing the energy sector refers to minimizing carbon dioxide emissions throughout energy generation, storage, and transmission processes. As a cornerstone of global climate action, this effort targets the energy industry due to its contribution of 73.2% of global greenhouse gas emissions (2020 data), making it a critical area for reducing humanity’s carbon footprint.   Key approaches include transitioning from fossil fuels (coal and natural gas) to renewable sources like wind, solar, biomass, and hydroelectric power, which now supply one-third of the world’s electricity despite challenges such as solar inefficiency in overcast regions. Nuclear energy, while low-emission, faces hurdles like high infrastructure costs, uranium mining requirements, and unresolved nuclear waste disposal issues, limiting its widespread adoption.   Additionally, carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies offer a way to reduce emissions from traditional coal and gas facilities by up to 90%, proving particularly impactful in regions still reliant on fossil fuels—though less necessary in places like the UK, where coal and gas use has declined significantly. These combined strategies aim to balance emission reduction with energy security and practicality.