The chemicals industry is complex
Chemicals sector faces transition dilemma
Transitioning to low-carbon is complicated but represents huge opportunities for the sector, says new report
The chemicals sector could grow annual production by a factor of 2.5 by 2050 while still being aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement, according to a study by consultancy Systemiq. But the sector is lagging on its commitments to decarbonise and is expected to be one of the slowest industries to transition. “The chemicals industry is a complex industry—there is a lot of different parts and processes to it,” report co-author Alexandre Kremer tells Transition Economist. “It is not easy for regulators to get moving and find consensus.” The chemicals sector represents just under 4pc of the 59gt of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. If the industry continued to scale up at its current
Also in this section
23 December 2025
Legislative reform in Germany sets the stage for commercial carbon capture and transport at a national level, while the UK has already seen financial close on major CCS clusters
15 December 2025
Net zero is not the problem for the UK’s power system. The real issue is with an outdated market design in desperate need of modernisation
28 November 2025
The launch of the bloc’s emissions trading system in 2005 was a pioneering step, but as the scheme hits 21 its impact as a driver of decarbonisation is still open to debate
18 November 2025
Vicki Hollub, president and CEO of Occidental, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Dewhurst Award, the highest honour bestowed by WPC Energy. The Dewhurst Award celebrates exceptional leadership, groundbreaking innovation and a lifetime of significant achievements in sup-port of the development and advancement of the energy industry.
