Carbon neutrality refers to achieving net zero carbon emissions by balancing a measured amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset, or buying enough carbon credits to make up the difference. This can be achieved through reducing and eliminating carbon emissions, and/or purchasing carbon credits or offsets from projects or technologies that remove or capture carbon from the atmosphere. The goal of carbon neutrality is to mitigate the effects of climate change caused by the release of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide.
It refers to the idea of achieving a balance between the amount of carbon emissions produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere. This can be done through a combination of reducing emissions (e.g. through energy efficiency and clean energy) and removing carbon from the atmosphere (e.g. through carbon sequestration or reforestation). The goal is to reach a point where the net emissions of an organization, community, or country are zero. This can help to mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce the risk of global warming.
To achieving net zero carbon emissions by balancing a measured amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset, or buying enough carbon credits to make up the difference. It is a goal to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere, so as to mitigate the effects of climate change. This can be achieved through a variety of methods such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, carbon capture and storage, reforestation, and other carbon offset projects.
The goal of balancing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere with an equivalent amount removed or offset. This can be achieved through a combination of reducing emissions (e.g. through energy efficiency, clean energy, and carbon capture technologies), and increasing carbon sequestration (e.g. through afforestation and reforestation, soil carbon sequestration, and ocean fertilization). The ultimate goal is to achieve net zero carbon emissions, meaning that the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere is equal to the amount emitted.
Despite the use of the term “carbon neutral,” a carbon footprint includes other greenhouse gases measured in terms of carbon dioxide equivalence. Even though CO2 is the most abundant greenhouse gas, the term climate-neutral reflects the broader inclusion of other greenhouse gases in climate change. The term net zero is increasingly being used to describe a broader and more comprehensive commitment to decarbonization and climate action, going beyond carbon neutrality by including more activities under the scope of indirect emissions and frequently including a science-based target on emissions reduction rather than relying solely on offsetting.
