One of the most important challenges in improving sustainability and tackling climate change at a global level is the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued two reports in 2019 expressing strong concerns about observed and predicted changes resulting from climate change and providing a scientific foundation that supports the importance of the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement and the need to ensure emissions are on track to achieve these goals. The tenth edition of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Emissions Gap Report provides the latest assessment of scientific studies on current and estimated future GHG emissions and compares these with the emission levels permissible for the world to progress on a least-cost pathway to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. According to this report, fossil CO₂ emissions from energy use and industry, which dominate total GHG emissions, grew by 2.0% in 2018, reaching a record 37.5 GtCO₂ per year. By 2030, emissions would need to be 25% and 55% lower than in 2018 to put the world on the least-cost pathway to limiting global warming to below 2 °C and 1.5 °C, respectively. According to the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, decarbonization of the energy supply is a key requirement for limiting warming to 2 °C, while reducing energy demand through efficiency enhancements and behavioral changes, renewables, in combination with the electrification of end uses, are key mitigation strategies. Given the important role that energy and especially the electricity sector will have to play in any low-carbon transformation, this Special Issue aims to attract works of scientific interest to deepen our understanding of these fields with different approaches. Therefore, research activities about different strategies for climate change adaptation and mitigation in the energy sector are welcome. A multidisciplinary approach is foreseen in order to address this issue from the perspectives of decision makers, public bodies, business, cities, universities, and citizens, taking into account that an increasing number of countries have set net zero emission targets domestically and 65 countries and major subnational economies (e.g., the state of California and major cities worldwide) have committed to net zero emissions by 2050. Papers selected for this Special Issue are subject to a rigorous peer-review procedure, enabling an integrated dissemination of research advancements.
Keywords: carbon footprint and energy efficiency; climate neutral business; energy-related carbon emissions reduction; carbon capture and storage; renewable energy; decarbonization of energy supply; reducing energy remand; energy efficiency enhancement; behavioral changes; circular carbon economy; carbon neutrality at universities; climate mitigation in cities; energy infrastructure resilience; adaptation measures of the energy sector.