The Top 5 Ways of Reducing Carbon Emissions

By Ankit SinghReviewed by Laura ThomsonMay 5 2025

The need to reduce carbon emissions is urgent. Global temperatures reached over 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels in 2024, leading to more extreme weather events. This makes quick and widespread action on climate change essential.

The Paris Agreement, created by 196 countries in 2015, aims to limit warming to 1.5 °C by cutting emissions by 43% by 2030. While progress has been uneven, industries, governments, and communities are mobilizing around five key strategies to reduce emissions. This article explores these strategies, their real-world impact, and the technologies driving them forward.^1,2

Image Credit: Clare Louise Jackson/Shutterstock.com

Renewable Energy Integration in Power Grids

Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and geothermal power, is essential for global decarbonization. As of 2025, renewables contribute over 30% to global electricity generation, with solar and wind technologies at the forefront due to their declining costs and supportive policy frameworks. Innovations like grid-scale battery storage and smart grid systems effectively manage intermittency issues, allowing utilities to balance energy supply and demand more efficiently.³

The United States Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has catalyzed $3.5 billion in federal investments for direct air capture (DAC) hubs, enhancing renewable energy initiatives with complementary carbon removal technologies. This holistic approach is vital for a sustainable energy future. Meanwhile, companies like Ørsted have switched from fossil fuels to offshore wind energy, reducing emissions while still making a profit. Nevertheless, updating the grid is challenging, especially in areas that depend on old infrastructure.^1,4

Electrification of Transportation

Electric vehicle (EV) sales are growing quickly, with more than 17 million units sold worldwide in 2024. This increase is due to stricter emissions rules, lower battery costs, and more charging stations.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revised the tailpipe rules until 2032 to significantly boost the production and sales of electric vehicles in the light-duty vehicle market. This shift could help reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and decarbonize the sector by 2050.^5,6

EVs are transforming passenger cars, public transportation, and freight delivery. Cities like Oslo and Shenzhen have adopted electric buses, while companies such as DHL and UPS are pursuing sustainability in logistics by testing and implementing eco-friendly solutions, such as electric delivery vans and alternative fuel vehicles. This transition is leading to a greener future for the entire logistics sector. However, there are still challenges to address, such as the supply chains for battery minerals and limitations of the power grid. Innovations like vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, which allows EVs to send energy back to the grid, could turn these challenges into opportunities for enhancing grid reliability.^1,7

Industrial Decarbonization

Heavy industries like steel, cement, and chemicals are responsible for nearly 25% of global CO₂ emissions. Decarbonizing these sectors requires a mix of carbon capture and storage (CCS), green hydrogen, and process electrification.⁸

Replacing fossil fuel-dependent machinery with electric alternatives such as industrial heat pumps and electric boilers can increase energy efficiency by 3 to 5 times, especially in low- to medium-heat processes like food production and pulp manufacturing.

Using digital tools like artificial intelligence (AI)-driven analytics and Internet of Things (IoT) sensors can help monitor energy use in real-time. These tools can identify problems and improve the integration of renewable energy, which could lower emissions by 20% by 2050.⁹

Green hydrogen and biofuels are important solutions for high-temperature industrial processes like steelmaking and cement production where electricity is impractical. Biofuels, such as renewable diesel, are 75% more efficient than petroleum diesel. They are becoming popular in mining and logistics because they offer an easy transition without changing engines.⁹

Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Appliances

Buildings are key in improving energy efficiency since they use almost 40% of the world’s energy and contribute to one-third of global emissions. Innovations like smart thermostats and AI-driven heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems optimize energy consumption by adjusting heating and cooling in real time, while retrofitting older buildings with heat pumps and light-emitting diodes (LED) lighting can cut energy demand by 30–50%.

Programs like California’s Equitable Building Decarbonization incentivize low-income households to adopt these upgrades, addressing affordability and emissions.^10,11

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Appliance efficiency has also surged due to federal standards and voluntary certifications like ENERGY STAR. This program has certified efficient appliances and buildings, helping businesses save $500 billion in energy costs since 1992 and avoid 4 billion metric tons of emissions.¹²

Sustainable Agriculture and Land Use

Agriculture and deforestation make up 24% of global emissions, but regenerative practices are reversing this trend.

No-till farming, agroforestry, and rotational grazing improve soil health, capture carbon, and increase crop yields. For instance, the Rimba Raya project in Indonesia protects 64,000 hectares of peatland, which is a carbon sink ten times more effective than regular forests, while also helping local communities.^13,14

Policy also plays an important role. The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) taxes imports based on how much carbon they produce, encouraging low-emission farming.

In the U.S., the Department of Agriculture is expanding programs that promote cover cropping and feed for livestock that reduces methane, thanks to funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). As more consumers shift to plant-based diets, these efforts could have an even bigger impact.^4,15

Video Credit: EcoMastery Project/YouTube.com

What’s Next for Global Emission Reduction?

The combined impact of these five strategies could bridge half the emissions gap by 2030, but bolder action is needed.

International cooperation, as seen in COP29’s carbon credit trading agreements, must accelerate. Policies like the IRA and CBAM should be replicated globally, while innovations like AI-optimized grids and bioenergy with CCS (BECCS) require scaling.⁴

Emerging technologies also hold promise. Companies like Climeworks are testing direct air capture (DAC) plants to remove CO₂ from the air, even though they require a lot of energy. Circular economy models focusing on reuse and recycling could reduce industrial emissions by 40%. It is crucial that equity supports these efforts, and developed countries should lead by providing funding and sharing technology to ensure a fair transition.⁴

References and Further Reading

1. Ringing In A Sustainable 2025: A Toast To Net-Zero Leaders Across Industries, And How To Become One Using Carbon Credits. Carbon Credit Capital. https://carboncreditcapital.com/sustainable-industry-leaders-2025-how-to-become-net-zero-using-carbon-credits/
2. The Paris Agreement. UNFCCC. https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement
3. Renewables - Energy System. IEA. https://www.iea.org/energy-system/renewables
4. How New Policies Shape the Carbon Capture Landscape in 2025. (2025). Soletair Power. https://www.soletairpower.fi/carbon-capture-landscape-2025/
5. Over 17 million EVs sold in 2024 - Record Year. Rho Motion. https://rhomotion.com/news/over-17-million-evs-sold-in-2024-record-year/
6. USA. Home | Climate Action Tracker. https://climateactiontracker.org/countries/usa/
7. Hedley, N. (2023). The cities with all-electric bus fleets are shielding themselves from big oil. The Progress Playbook | Nick Hedley | Substack. https://nickhedley.substack.com/p/the-cities-with-all-electric-bus
8. Industrial Decarbonization Global Market Outlook 2025-2035. (2025). Research and Markets.  https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/02/27/3033590/0/en/Industrial-Decarbonization-Global-Market-Outlook-2025-2035-with-Profiles-of-1-000-Companies-including-Boston-Metal-Carbon-Clean-H2-Green-Steel-Antora-Energy-Electrified-Thermal-Sol.html
9. Key Strategies to Include in Your Industrial Decarbonization Plan. (2024). ABI Research. https://www.abiresearch.com/blog/industrial-decarbonization-strategies-and-technologies
10. Buildings are the foundation of our energy-efficient future. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2021/02/why-the-buildings-of-the-future-are-key-to-an-efficient-energy-ecosystem/
11. Energy-efficient buildings and appliances. EBSCO Information Services, Inc. | www.ebsco.com. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/construction-and-building/energy-efficient-buildings-and-appliances
12. ENERGY STAR Impacts. ENERGY STAR. https://www.energystar.gov/about/impacts
13. Richards, M. et al. (2019). Climate change mitigation potential of agricultural practices supported by IFAD investments: An ex ante analysis. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331555875_Climate_change_mitigation_potential_of_agricultural_practices_supported_by_IFAD_investments_An_ex_ante_analysis
14. Top 4 Carbon Projects in 2025: The Game-Changers in Climate Action You Need to Know. Carbon Credits. https://carboncredits.com/top-4-carbon-projects-in-2025-the-game-changers-in-climate-action-you-need-to-know/
15. GHG Reduction Programs & Strategies. US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/climateleadership/ghg-reduction-programs-strategies

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