Net zero by 2050: the case for green industrial policy

How does the goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050 influence our understanding of green industrial policy? While industrial policy has moved to the forefront of climate debates, the literature provides conflicting messages about good practices for developing and implementing it effectively. By reviewing key theoretical perspectives informing research on green industrial policy and key reports that model a net-zero future, we argue that looking through a net-zero lens clarifies some of these debates and underscores the need for a politically sensitive understanding of the role of the state in the economy. This article contributes to the literature by taking a holistic perspective on the politics of green industrial policy and identifying promising policy guidelines in building a prosperous net zero economy by 2050.