Don't Forget About "Hard-to-Abate" Sectors

A crucial aspect of addressing the climate crisis is the promotion and scaling up of carbon-free technologies, such as heat pumps and electric vehicles (EVs), and transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. In fact, the majority of the EU’s emissions are likely to be eliminated through these methods, along with energy efficiency practices and behavioural changes. However, these measures alone have limits and will have little to no effect on decarbonising certain industrial sectors—particularly the so-called "hard-to-abate" sectors.

Although this term lacks a precise, universal definition, it generally refers to industries where fuel switching and electrification can only provide part of the solution. This is usually due to one of two key reasons: