DEEPTI’S RESEARCH DISPATCH
“Net Zero” is Not a Slogan
It’s a goal that’s essential but not enough. Research Tidbit #9
You may have heard the phrase ‘net-zero’ in the context of climate action. I came across it when as a part of my reading project on sustainability and climate. When a country, company or other entity pledges net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it means the amount of GHG they put into the atmosphere will be balanced by the amount they remove.
This is an important milestone to achieve, because once we stabilize the amount of GHG in the atmosphere, the global temperature stops rising.
Net-zero is a simple mathematical concept that just means
(amount put in) = (amount taken out).
The amounts in question could refer to liquids in a pipe, energy in a machine, money in a business, sand in an hourglass, or anything else. The phrase shows up in all sorts of fields of study.
However, in the concept of climate action, ‘net zero’ has become a rallying cry, an advertising slogan, and an object of criticism.
