Deep greenhouse gas emission reductions in Europe: Exploring different options

Most modelling studies that explore emission mitigation scenarios only look into least‐cost emission pathways, induced by a carbon tax. This means that European policies targeting specific – sometimes relatively costly – technologies, such as electric cars and advanced insulation measures, are usually not evaluated as part of cost‐optimal scenarios. This study explores an emission mitigation scenario for Europe up to 2050, taking as a starting point specific emission reduction options instead of a carbon tax. The purpose is to identify the potential of each of these policies and identify trade‐offs between sectoral policies in achieving emission reduction targets. The reduction options evaluated in this paper together lead to a reduction of 65% of 1990 CO2‐equivalent emissions by 2050. More bottom‐up modelling exercises, like the one presented here, provide a promising starting point to evaluate policy options that are currently considered by policy makers.