27^th Ambassadorship, Month 5, Report 2

Thematic Report: January

Theme: Carbon Neutrality

Title: Achieving Carbon Neutrality

The balance between releasing carbon and absorbing carbon emissions from carbon sinks is defined as carbon-neutral (or carbon neutrality). Carbon sinks include forests, soils, and seas, which absorb more carbon than they emit. In other words, Achieving a net carbon footprint of zero is referred to as carbon neutrality. The phrase is frequently used to refer to a full enterprise (or a dedicated individual), but it can also refer to a specific product or activity (such as air travel). Because most firms or individuals will not be able to entirely eliminate all GHG emissions related with their activities and goods, carbon neutrality is often based on the idea of balancing emissions that cannot be easily eradicated with external GHG reductions. The major technique for achieving such reductions is carbon offset certificates.

To address the issue of climate change, we must all consider our personal carbon emissions and make ongoing efforts to minimize them. However, no matter how hard we try, we will never be able to cut our carbon emissions to zero. Purchasing carbon offsets to achieve carbon neutrality is a viable and economical option to address the remaining emissions.

Furthermore, by calculating and assigning a cost to your carbon emissions on a voluntary basis, you may begin to plan for the inevitable regulation and taxation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. This is an essential step toward efficiently managing your carbon emissions and identifying opportunities for reductions and savings, whether you are a business or a person.

Carbon neutrality targets are becoming more popular, and they appear to be somewhat ambitious. All CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels must halt by the end of the century: there will be little room for anyone to "net out" their emissions using someone else's GHG reductions. While achieving zero net emissions is appealing and even desirable, the focus should be on lowering GHG emissions directly (and drastically) in order to meet global mitigation targets. Carbon offsets should, in theory, only be used in conjunction with efforts to reduce corporate emissions to near-zero by 2050.

 

Figure: Steps to achieving carbon neutrality

 

References:

https://plana.earth/academy/what-is-difference-between-carbon-neutral-net-zero-climate-positive/#:~:text=By%20definition%2C%20carbon%2Dneutral%20(,as%20forests%2C%20soils%20and%20oceans.