Source page: McKinsey & Company
Commentary
Green tech leaders and laggards
Sustainability | Technology
July 18, 2024 – Some climate technologies are far off the mark for reaching net-zero targets. Senior partner Harry Bowcott and coauthors note that many green tech solutions, such as carbon removals and green-hydrogen production, are falling well short of their goals. More mature technologies—including offshore wind power and battery electric vehicle production—are outpacing expectations. The pace of growth for climate tech will help determine whether net-zero emissions are in reach by 2030.
To read the article, see “A radical approach to cost reduction at climate tech companies,” June 18, 2024.
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Visual form
Small-multiple line chart grid.
Layout / body structure
The visual is arranged as eight mini-panels split into emerging or next-generation technologies on the left and more mature technologies on the right, with each panel read left to right from 2015 to 2030 and the dashed comparison line showing the net-zero trajectory against the solid current path.
What is being compared
It compares current and required deployment paths for selected climate technologies, including nature-based carbon credits, alternative-protein demand, green-hydrogen production, plastic-waste recycling, carbon captured, carbon removals, solar PV, offshore wind, nuclear power, and battery electric vehicle sales.
Measurement system
Each panel uses an index where 2015 equals 1, so the lines show relative scaling rather than raw units, and the historical portion is lightly shaded before the projection runs out to 2030.
Visible structure inside the graphic
Every panel contains a solid line for the current trajectory, a dashed line for the net-zero path, and a shaded historical band, with icons above each technology to separate the different categories visually across the grid.
Main takeaway from the visual
Most of the emerging and next-generation technologies are visibly below the trajectory required for net zero, while several mature technologies are much closer to the needed path and in some cases are already outpacing it.
Key standout values or extremes
Carbon removals shows one of the largest gaps, with the dashed net-zero line racing toward nearly 4 by 2030 while the solid current line barely rises above 1; green hydrogen and carbon capture also show large shortfalls, whereas battery electric vehicles rise above a net-zero line near 3 and offshore wind and solar PV sit much closer to their required paths.
Controls / sequence, when applicable
This is a static chart image with no in-chart controls to operate.
Companion media, when applicable
There is no separate companion audio or video; the chart image is the full visual on this page.