Time to Retire ‘Hard to Abate’ as Climate Solutions Get Cheaper

Jargon often gets in the way of clearly understanding the climate challenge. While some technical terms such as “net zero” are useful and continue to gain wider acceptance, others aren’t so helpful. Take the phrase “hard to abate.”

The simplest definition of “hard to abate” is that an industry finds it difficult to lower its greenhouse gas emissions. The industries that the term is typically used for are steel, cement, chemicals, shipping, aviation and sometimes long-distance trucking.

Yet “difficult” can be interpreted in different ways. It could mean these industrial sectors don’t have the technology to cut emissions. Or it could mean the technologies ...