Decoupling: Relative and Absolute

This lecture explores the concepts of relative and absolute decoupling in the context of power sector CO2 emissions, focusing on advanced economies like Switzerland. It delves into the importance of achieving absolute decoupling for sustainable economic growth and environmental preservation, contrasting it with relative decoupling. The instructor discusses real-world examples, such as Switzerland's decoupling of CO2 emissions and energy consumption per capita, and the impact of globalization on decoupling. Various types of targets for environmental impacts, as seen in INDCs, are also covered, along with case studies like China's INDC. The lecture concludes with insights on the challenges and benefits of decoupling energy use and CO2 emissions from economic growth.