[Thematic Report] Carbon Neutralityby Sara Dauletyarova | 29-01-2022 01:31 |
|---|
 It¡¯s obvious that we don¡¯t have any control over emissions caused by any natural sources, but what we have control over is balancing the number of greenhouse gases created by human activities. And that¡¯s called Carbon Neutrality. In 2015, Paris Agreement was adopted to reach worldwide net-zero emissions and achieve climate change around the world. Carbon neutrality plays a key role in preventing climate change through carbon sinks. Soil, forests, and oceans are considered the main natural carbon sinks. Carbon sequestration is for storing carbon oxide from the atmosphere and balancing global greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon offsetting, which is another method to minimize emissions, is for offsetting emissions through renewable energy, low-carbon technologies, or energy efficiency. According to the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, more than 137 countries have committed to carbon neutrality. Bhutan and Suriname are the only countries that managed to reach carbon neutrality. And 124 countries out of 137 set a goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. At the moment, 99 of the 137 pledges, or more than 72 percent, are merely being discussed. That means that they have no official status as of yet and are more difficult to act on. Bhutan is the first carbon-negative country in the world. But the crucial question is how? Even though Bhutan is recognized as a top travel destination with picturesque views, the government of Bhutan has enforced rules to reduce the number of tourists from the country. It is one of the ways to preserve the environment. Volunteers from Bhutan set a world record by planting 49,672 trees in an hour in June 2015. Trees cover more than 70% of the country, and they contribute to the absorption of tons of carbon dioxide every year. Also, most of the renewable hydroelectric power generated from rivers is exported from Bhutan. By promoting an environmentally friendly lifestyle and preventing negative impacts on the environment, Bhutan has successfully achieved its target. References: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20190926STO62270/what-is-carbon-neutrality-and-how-can-it-be-achieved-by-2050 https://www.visualcapitalist.com/race-to-net-zero-carbon-neutral-goals-by-country/ https://www.gvi.co.uk/blog/bhutan-the-first-carbon-negative-country-in-the-world/ |
