Reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 will require a number of things to be accomplished quickly.

In Fast Company magazine, Adele Peters outlined what needs to happen this decade to reach that goal.

• Wind and solar will have to grow by 3.5 times by 2029 while most electricity generation from coal is eliminated. This is expected to reduce emissions in the electric sector at least 2/3rds.

• The Department of Energy says we will need a network of new electricity transmission lines with new pipelines for hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide.

• Heat pumps and electric cars will have to reach 50% of the market by 2030.

• New buildings and appliances will have to meet strict energy standards.

• We will need new carbon capture, other technology and carbon-neutral fuels.

• We will have to maintain natural gas as a low-cost source of power when renewable energy sources cannot meet demand.

Jim Williams of the University of San Francisco said, “It’s critical to make the transition carefully. If we don’t do this transition in a way that captures new technology jobs for American workers, if we don’t do it in a way that helps there be a decent and equitable transition for those who are in fossil fuel industries, this is not going to work.” Ryan Jones, cofounder of Evolved Energy

Ryan Jones, cofounder of Evolved Energy Research, said, “It’s fully feasible to meet the goal of net zero. But we’ll also have to move much faster than we have in the past.

“We have been slow to muster the collective will to make this transformation happen. I think there needs to be a step change in the implementation effort for these pathways to come about in the time frame that we have described here.”

- Rod Funderburk, Columbia