Jan Rosenow on How Businesses Can Cut Carbon Emissions

This exclusive interview with Jan Rosenow was conducted by Tabish Ali of the Motivational Speakers Agency.

Running a business on clean energy every hour of the year is a demanding ambition. Dr Jan Rosenow sees it as one of the most exciting areas of innovation in cutting carbon emissions.

An energy and climate policy specialist, Rosenow has advised organisations including the International Energy Agency, the United Nations and the European Parliament.

Speaking exclusively to Sustainability Speakers Agency, he explains why he remains optimistic about the energy transition and where businesses can make progress. From round-the-clock clean energy to electrification and the European Green Deal, he discusses the opportunities available and the first steps companies can take to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.

1. What innovative approaches are businesses taking to reduce their carbon emissions?

Jan Rosenow: In the past, businesses often bought certificates that would provide them with the ability to say, “We are carbon neutral. We’ve offset our emissions.”

But that’s the old world of carbon abatement. We’re now seeing businesses moving towards real carbon abatement, by which I mean they make sure it’s not just over the course of a year that they reduce their emissions, but that every hour of the year they run on clean energy.

We’re seeing a lot of companies moving into that space of 24/7 clean energy, and that is where a lot of the innovation is happening. It’s hugely challenging, but also very exciting.

2. What makes you optimistic about businesses’ ability to transition to clean energy?

Jan Rosenow: I’m an energy transition optimist because I’ve so often seen people say, “This is all going to be too difficult. It’s not going to work. It’s too expensive.”

Then, when you fast forward a decade or two, you see the transition has been faster than most people predicted. It has been cheaper, and costs have fallen more than expected.

I personally believe a lot of these challenges will be overcome through learning effects and innovation. Within that, businesses play a pivotal role.

3. What first steps should companies take to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels?

Jan Rosenow: The first step a company can take is to make a commitment to transition away from fossil fuels to clean energy carriers.

Companies will then need help from people who know exactly how to do this, bringing in experts who can provide them with a road map towards meeting that ambition.

4. How are businesses helping to deliver the energy transition?

Jan Rosenow: The energy transition is delivered by businesses: the businesses building the infrastructure, creating opportunities for clean energy technologies to reach consumers, and developing the financial models people need to make the required investments.

There’s a huge role for business in the energy transition. I see so much innovation coming out of companies small and large that I personally believe we are already pretty far ahead when it comes to the transition.

5. What opportunities does the European Green Deal offer businesses?

Jan Rosenow: The European Green Deal is a huge undertaking. It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Europe to transition away from fossil fuels towards clean energy.

There are tremendous opportunities for businesses to benefit from the different incentives being put in place, be that for the buildout of renewables or to decarbonise the energy supply.

The Green Deal will provide an immense platform and accelerator for the transition in Europe.

6. Why is electrification so important to reducing carbon emissions?

Jan Rosenow: Electrification is the most important lever to lower emissions in the global economy. We know that from analysis by the International Energy Agency and other organisations that have done similar work.

Through electrification, we can also deliver the same energy services much more efficiently than we currently do by burning fossil fuels.