Energy and Climate Change

As a major energy user as well as enabler of energy - and emissions- saving solutions in all sectors of society, the European chemical industry has a significant role to play in mitigating climate change. 

Energy Roadmap (22nd April 2013)

Cefic initiated a roadmap to explore the impact, opportunities and risks of various energy and technology development scenarios for the European chemical industry in the timeframe from 2020 to 2050. Cefic commissioned Ecofys to perform analyses and bring forward key conclusions and recommendations from their independent viewpoint, in close collaboration with the sector.

Download the Energy Roadmap report.

With regard to chemicals manufacturing, it has made remarkable improvements in energy efficiency over the past decades: energy use per unit of product has been substantially reduced (in 2005 by 42% as compared to 1990). Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is another success with which this industry is credited.

The chemical industry has already been working very hard to meet its environmental challenges. Although production in the chemical industry has increased by more than 50% since 1990, greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by more than 20%. With a reduction of 96 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents since 1990, the chemical industry alone has achieved nearly one third of the EU commitment under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8% between 1990 and 2012.

Chemistry and Energy-Efficient Buildings

Learn about how products that depend on chemistry - insulation, pipe and pipe insulation, air sealing, reflective roof coatings and pigments, and windows - help increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions in the buildings sector.

Chemistry and the Low-Carbon Economy

Learn about how the chemistry industry is helping to overcome this challenge with innovative products and operational efficiency - insulation materials in buildings, energy-saving light bulbs and plastic packaging, just to name a few.