Reaching net zero emissions requires a complete transformation of how we power our daily lives and the global economy. The IEA's Net Zero by 2050 Scenario lays out a narrow but achievable pathway to net zero emissions in the energy sector by mid-century – a trajectory consistent with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5oC.
Energy employment reached nearly 67 million in 2022, with more than half employed in clean energy. Clean energy sectors have added nearly 5 million jobs across every region of the world, since 2019, thanks to strong investment and policy support.
On the other hand, fossil fuel employment has yet to fully recover from pandemic-era layoffs. As a result, the clean energy workforce surpassed that of fossil fuels around 2021 to employ over 50% of total energy workers worldwide, a trend that remains true in most regions