“Net zero” refers to achieving a balance between the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere and the amount removed from it. In essence, it means reducing greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible and offsetting any remaining emissions by removing an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
Achieving net zero emissions is crucial for mitigating climate change and limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as outlined in the Paris Agreement. To reach net zero emissions, countries, businesses, and individuals must take significant actions to reduce emissions across various sectors such as energy, transportation, industry, and agriculture.
Key strategies for reaching net zero emissions include:
- Emissions Reduction: Implementing measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as transitioning to renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, electrifying transportation, adopting sustainable land use practices, and reducing industrial emissions.
- Carbon Offsetting: Compensating for any remaining emissions by investing in activities that remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, such as afforestation (planting trees), reforestation, restoring degraded ecosystems, and deploying carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies.
- Carbon Neutrality: Achieving a state where the net greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere are balanced by an equivalent amount removed from the atmosphere, resulting in no overall contribution to global warming.
Many countries, businesses, and organizations have set net zero emissions targets to align with the goals of the Paris Agreement and address the urgency of climate change. These targets typically involve a combination of emissions reduction efforts and carbon offsetting measures. However, achieving net zero emissions will require concerted efforts, collaboration, and innovation across all sectors of society.