Sectoral Decarbonization Approach

Definition

The Sectoral Decarbonization Approach (SDA) is a methodology for setting physical emissions intensity targets that relies on the principle of convergence. It establishes a pathway for sectors to align their emissions intensity with climate science objectives, generally assuming that sectoral intensities will converge toward a global average by 2050.

Key Characteristics

  • Convergence Principle: Assumes that emissions intensity in specific sectors will converge to a global average by 2050 to meet defined temperature goals.
  • Physical Intensity Targets: Focuses on physical units of output rather than purely monetary metrics, allowing for comparability across a sector.
  • Adaptability: Can be tailored to reflect the unique technical and operational complexities of distinct industries, such as the differentiation between mobile, fixed, and data center sub-sectors in the ICT industry.
  • Science-Based Alignment: Designed to facilitate the alignment of corporate emission targets with global climate pathways.

Applications

  • Establishing science-based emissions reduction targets for organizations within specific sectors.
  • Developing decarbonization trajectories for sub-sectors (e.g., the ICT sector) where standard models may initially lack specific data.
  • Facilitating standardized reporting and benchmarking of environmental performance within an industry.

Mentions in Source

  • “The normal sectoral decarbonization approach (SDA) is a method for setting physical emissions intensity targets that uses convergence.” — ITU-T L.1470 (Greening Digital)
  • “Applying the SDA to ICT… Currently, the ETP scenarios have no direct reference to the ICT sector, which means the current SDA tool of the SBT initiative excludes any reference to ICT.” — ITU-T L.1470 (Greening Digital)