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Net zero or carbon neutrality? Let's get some clarity
Net Zero (or net zero emissions) often refers to the condition in which CO₂ emissions released into the atmosphere by a company's activities are balanced by an equivalent amount offset (removed or avoided), over a given period of time.
This definition, however, creates a kind of overlap with the definition of carbon neutrality, so much so that in some cases the two terms are mistakenly used as synonyms.
To make sustainability terminologies more accessible to everyone, we want to shed light on the difference between carbon neutrality and Net Zero, and explain what actions and projects you can put into practice right now to kick-start your sustainability journey, in your company and beyond.
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Net Zero emissions: translation and explanation
Zero net emissions coincide with a point in time when the company, or production activity, is on a emissions reduction trajectory aligned with the Paris goals (i.e., containing global average temperature increase well below the 2°C threshold to counter global warming).
In addition to this, in order to achieve Net Zero emissions, preference of emission removal projects is recommended for offset activities, so as to achieve a true balance between the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere and the amount of greenhouse gases sequestered.
International initiatives such as "Science Based Targets Initiative" or "Net Zero 2030 B Corp Climate Collective" have further shed light on the strategies to be put in place.
To fall under the definition of Net Zero requires that decarbonization activities meet these requirements:
- the company is on an emissions reduction trajectory aligned with the Paris goals;
- solutions are preferred "carbon removal" for offset activities, which means that emissions should preferably be offset with projects that capture, sequester or remove CO₂ from the atmosphere (neutralization), so that the net CO₂ released is zero;
- offset solutions are certified in accordance with major international standards (Verified Carbon Standard or Gold Standard). This ensures that the carbon credits purchased are real and verifiable, and that the projects supported make measurable contributions to sustainable development.
Interested in learning all the details about the Net Zero goal and how it came about? The Up2You Insight team has put together a comprehensive guide full of interesting facts. Click here and download it for free!
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Initiatives in support of the Net Zero goal
The need to achieve net zero emissions as soon as possible has led to the emergence of initiatives to regulate the actions and standards needed to achieve theNet Zero goal. Let's look at the 2 main ones.
Science Based Targets Initiative
SBTi was founded in 2015 by CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)*. The purpose? To invite companies, especially private ones, to make a pathway to Net Zero by 2050, through science-backed solutions, thus aligned with the aforementioned Paris Goals.
Net Zero 2030 B Corp Climate Collective (BCCC)
Instead, this collective was born in 2019, bringing together more than 500 private companies with the goal of achieving Net Zero emissions. The current campaign, which has been guiding companies toward the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda** will close soon, and the collective will devote itself to broader-ranging activities that will arrive at an appreciable result by 2050.
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What are the carbon removal technologies that contribute to Net Zero?
Projects that contribute to theNet Zero goal are those that remove CO₂ emissions from the atmosphere.
Here are some examples:
- technology-based activities include the use of biomass for carbon collection and storage (BECCS), or the Direct Air Capture (DAC) method, which uses chemical reactions to separate and capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere;
- Nature-based projects, on the other hand, include certified and large-scale reforestation projects; farming practices that aim to harvest CO₂ through the soil; and marine ecosystem extension activities.
Among our compensation projects you will find several examples of the application of these techniques.
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Net Zero vs. carbon neutrality: the terms compared
But then, what is the difference between carbon neutrality and Net Zero?
- The term "carbon neutrality" refers to a condition in which the company, which produces a certain amount of emissions, offsets the same amount.
This term does not impose an emissions reduction target (however, always provided for in a proper pathway), and there are no limitations on the types of projects to be supported to offset emissions, as long as they are certified solutions and in line with international standards.
- The term "Net Zero," on the other hand, can be considered in a sense a more stringent condition than carbon neutrality. Indeed, it presupposes, as we have already mentioned, that the company is on an emissions reduction trajectory aligned with the Paris goals and recommends a preference toward carbon removal solutions for offsetting emissions.
*Source: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
