When researching climate change and resiliency, you may run into the term "net zero" and wonder what this term means or if it's the same thing as "carbon neutral." While similar in concept, there are some notable differences.
The goal of going net zero means attempting, on a global scale, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to a level as close to zero as possible while removing greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere at a rate equal to their emissions.
Since the beginning of the industrial age, humans have been burning fossil fuels to run equipment for producing and distributing goods and services. The combustion of fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide as a byproduct. This gas is collecting cumulatively in the atmosphere, trapping heat and increasing the overall ambient temperature of the planet. This overall warming leads to climate instability, changing weather patterns, and increasing the likelihood of stronger and more powerful storms, as well as causing extreme droughts in areas that are already facing difficulties in accessing fresh water.
Why is net zero a critical goal?
The world is getting hotter, a fact that scientists are pretty clear about. Increasing heat contributes to more extreme weather patterns, as is evidenced by the increase in the number and intensity of powerful hurricanes across the globe. At this point, we are no longer able to completely stop climate change, however, we can still work to reduce its compounding impacts.
As was detailed in 2014: Climate Change Impacts in the United States: The Third National Climate Assessment:
"Heat-trapping gases already in the atmosphere have committed us to a hotter future with more climate-related impacts over the next few decades. The magnitude of climate change beyond the next few decades depends primarily on the amount of heat-trapping gases emitted globally, now and in the future."
Beyond hurricanes, the effects of climate change have demonstrated that heat waves, catastrophic floods, droughts, and devastating wildfires have become more frequent and severe, affecting communities in various ways across the world. While these disasters are inherently damaging, additional risks are more subtle.
For instance, the U.S. National Intelligence Council (2012) has determined that global population growth will result in an increased demand for water, food (35% projected increase), and energy (50% projected increase) by the year 2030. The food-water-energy issue is one that will become more critical in coming years, as resource scarcity contributes to other aggregate societal stresses such as political instability and increased food prices, both issues that we have seen in recent years since the covid-19 pandemic began.
How do we achieve net zero?
The most obvious answer is to stop emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, however, going cold turkey on fossil fuels isn't really an option. We can however seek to limit the amount of carbon emissions that are released by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and investing in clean energy technology.
There are a number of steps that can be taken to reduce or eliminate carbon emissions, including:
Increasing the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, which do not produce carbon emissions when generating electricity.
Improving energy efficiency in buildings, transportation, and industry, which can reduce the amount of energy needed and therefore the amount of carbon emissions produced.
Planting trees and other vegetation, which absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow.
Capturing and storing carbon dioxide produced by power plants and other industrial facilities.
Transitioning to electric or low-carbon vehicles and reducing the number of vehicles on the road.
Changing consumption patterns and reducing waste, which can also help to lower carbon emissions.
It will likely be necessary to pursue a combination of these strategies in order to achieve net zero carbon emissions.
In Summary
Net zero is a critical goal because it represents a balance between the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) being released into the atmosphere and the amount being removed from the atmosphere. The burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas is a major source of carbon dioxide emissions, and these emissions have been linked to climate change.
The Earth's climate is sensitive to the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, and an excess of CO2 can trap more heat and cause the planet to warm. This can lead to a range of negative impacts, including more frequent heatwaves, droughts, and extreme weather events, as well as rising sea levels and harm to ecosystems and biodiversity.
Achieving net zero carbon emissions is seen as a necessary step to stabilize the climate and avoid the worst impacts of climate change. While it may not be possible to completely eliminate all carbon emissions, reducing emissions as much as possible and removing excess CO2 from the atmosphere can help to slow or stop the warming trend and protect the planet for future generations.
For further reading:
References:
National Intelligence Council, Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds (Washington, DC: National Intelligence Council, 2012), p. 30.
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