Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project (DDPP)

SDG Index & Monitoring

Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project (DDPP)

"To reach net zero, we first need a roadmap. Creating rigorous and realistic roadmaps to inform society's choices is the purpose of the Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project."

-Jim Williams


DOWNLOAD 2015 SYNTHESIS REPORT DOWNLOAD 2015 SYNTHESIS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY DOWNLOAD 2015 SYNTHESIS SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

Overview

The Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project (DDPP) is a global collaboration of energy research teams charting practical pathways to deeply reducing greenhouse gas emissions in their own countries. It is predicated on taking seriously what is needed to limit global warming to 2°C or less.

The DDPP framework has been developed and utilized by a consortium led by The Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). In 2015 it consisted of scientific research teams from leading research institutions in sixteen of the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitting countries.

The initial results of this collaboration are reflected in reports on deep decarbonization pathways for Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan Mexico, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, United Kingdom and United States. In addition, the consortium developed a cross-cutting analyses, the 2015 synthesis report.
Countries included in the 2015 Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project 

Research Approach

Transformational

Limiting global warming to 2°C or less will require global emissions of greenhouse gases to be deeply reduced by 2050. This will require a profound transformation of how energy is supplied and used around the world. The DDPP is charting the path to this transformation, starting now, one country at a time.

Critically Needed

Deep decarbonization pathways fill a key gap in climate policy. Within countries, they provide a critical, missing long-term framework for informing and coordinating policy and business decisions. Internationally, they provide a transparent benchmark for evaluating national commitments.

Country Driven

DDPP research teams study decarbonization in their own countries. Each team defines its own pathways to a low carbon energy system that still provides all the energy services their society needs, taking into account current infrastructure, natural resources, and stage of socio-economic development.

Collaborative

The country research teams are building a new global knowledge base for decarbonization, transparently sharing results, data, and methods.  The DDPP has developed a unique set of analytical tools for combining and comparing individual country pathways, allowing the global impact to be more clearly seen.


Solution Oriented

The DDPP identifies problems and finds solutions on the road to deep decarbonization. The pathways are rigorous, detailed, sector-by-sector descriptions of what deep decarbonization requires in each country over time, in terms of technologies, infrastructure, investment needs, and international support.

Game Changing

The DDPP is already changing the climate policy discussion both within countries and among them. By showing concretely how 2°C can be achieved and what the enabling conditions are, it is altering the focus from incremental change to transformation, and shining a bright new light on the benefits of cooperation.

Country Reports

Pathways to Deep Decarbonization in Canada
2015
Pathways to Deep Decarbonization in the United Kingdom
2015

Related Projects

America's Zero Carbon Action Plan (ZCAP)
2020 - UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
The Zero Carbon Action Plan (ZCAP), released in October 2020, serves as roadmap for the U.S. based on the latest modeling, research and understanding of decarbonizing six key sectors (power, transport, industry, buildings, food and land use, and materials) supported by technical pathways to zero carbon by 2050.

ZCAP was designed by a cohort of nearly 100 researchers and 19 Chairs who make up the Zero Carbon Consortium, who are experts in their fields of climate change policy. The report is anchored in the modeling results from Evolved Energy Research (EER) and makes policy recommendations to support the transition of energy infrastructure throughout the country in line with carbon neutrality by mid-century. 
OPEN WEBSITE
Legal Pathways to Deep Decarbonization in the United States
2019 - Michael B. Gerrard and John C. Dernbach
Legal Pathways to Deep Decarbonization in the United States provides a “legal playbook” for deep decarbonization in the United States, identifying well over 1,000 legal options for enabling the United States to address one of the greatest problems facing this country and the rest of humanity.

The book is based on two reports by the Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project (DDPP) that explain technical and policy pathways for reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% from 1990 levels by 2050. This 80x50 target and similarly aggressive carbon abatement goals are often referred to as deep decarbonization, distinguished because it requires systemic changes to the energy economy.
OPEN WEBSITE
Net-Zero Deep Decarbonization Pathways in Latin America
Ongoing - IDDRI
There is a crucial need for capacity building in developing countries to enable the development of long term low emissions development strategies. A secondary objective should be to initiate and facilitate exchange of knowledge between researchers and decision makers in countries, in order to support the internalization of the conclusions of long-term analysis into short-term policy, including in revised NDCs.

The DDPP-LAC project pursues these two intertwined objectives. The DDPP-LAC project aims to implement both aspects of capacity building by putting more emphasis on the model development itself and pursuing the support to scenario design.
OPEN WEBSITE VIEW ARTICLE

Blog & Updates

Universities have the Potential to Play a Key Role in the Acceleration of a Just Transition

By Lyndsay Gehring, Program Associate, Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition • 16 Jan, 2024
Among the many agenda items at COP28, one of the most widely publicized was the promise from over 100 countries to back the pledge to triple the world’s clean energy capacity by 2030. Meeting this ambitious pledge, which sets out to reach 10,000 gigawatts of global renewables by 2030, will require the proper training of a skilled workforce. In 2021, global employment in the renewable energy sector already reached 12.7 million - up one million since 2020 alone. As the world pushes to decarbonize economies, countries must continue to ramp up the deployment of renewables, and train a new generation of young and transitioning workers. Universities have the ability to serve as more effective partners in the energy transition by improving course offerings in renewable energy. Specifically, universities should adapt to provide interdisciplinary coursework for technical renewable energy programs and increase partnerships with government agencies and industry leaders.

Universities Serve as Champions of Net Zero at COP28

By Elena Crete • 19 Dec, 2023
In an effort to help advance creative funding solutions for university decarbonization, SDSN’s Climate & Energy team and Monash University co-hosted a two hour interactive workshop at COP28 bringing together universities, financiers, and philanthropists from around the world. The workshop, entitled “Achieving Net Zero on Campus: Unlocking Finance,” allowed participants to highlight and discuss exemplar university decarbonization pathways, identify obstacles of scaling, and begin to explore creative funding solutions for the university sector together.

Photo Essay: Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET) at COP28

By Daniel Bernstein • 13 Dec, 2023
The Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET) attended the UNFCCC 28th Conference of Parties, COP28, in Dubai December 4-8, 2023 to bring their technical first-hand experience to conversations about advancing clean energy and sustainable development.
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