Resource-efficient pathways towards greenhouse-gas-neutrality (RESCUE) : how Germany can achieve greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050 and resulting raw materials demand / by Philip Nuss, Jens Günther, Katja Purr and Guido Knoche ; publisher: Umweltbundesamt ; responsible units: Section I 1.1 “Fundamental Aspects, Sustainability Strategies and Scenarios, Sustainable Resource Use” Philip Nuss and Jens Günther; Section V 1.2 “Strategies and Scenarios for Climate and Energy” Katja Purr and Guido Knoche

Abstract

The RESCUE study describes in six scenarios possible development paths towards a resource-efficient and greenhouse-gas (GHG) neutral Germany until 2050. The GreenSupreme scenario achieves the reduction of emissions along a global 1.5 °C path towards GHG-neutrality by 2050, while at the same time substantially lowering Germany’s material footprint. This publication discusses possible synergies and overlaps of the transformation areas within RESCUE and the elements of the recently published “European Green Deal”. It is hoped to inform stakeholders (e.g., governments, businesses, civil society, and science) with an interest in transformation pathways until 2050.