What is Net zero?

The word “net zero” is frequently heard, but what exactly does it mean?

Simply said, net zero represents the balance of greenhouse gas production and removal from the environment. It is possible to do this by combining emission removal with emission reduction.

To achieve Net Zero, we must balance the amount of greenhouse gases we release with the amount we remove. We reach net zero when what we contribute equals what we subtract.

Why is Net Zero Important?

Climate change mitigation is a top priority for all entities, including nations, businesses, and individuals. The future will be determined by the process of decarbonisation, which will limit emissions over the next 10 years, thus every nation, industry, and individual must work together to create solutions to minimise the amount of carbon we produce.

The race to remove carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from our atmosphere has begun on a global scale. The stakes are at an all-time high because human-caused emissions are wreaking havoc on our planet and plunging us deeper into an uncontrollable climate disaster.

All of the world’s leading governments, scientists, and business leaders agree that immediate action is essential to prevent further global warming. To limit the average global temperature rise to 1.5°C, we must roughly halve current carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

How to Achieve Net Zero?

The majority of net zero approaches and technologies are currently in place and are becoming increasingly cost-competitive with high-carbon alternatives. Solar and wind power are presently the cheapest options for 67% of the world’s population. Markets are shifting as they become more aware of the promise and risks involved with a high-carbon economy.

As a result, investments in carbon removal technologies are becoming increasingly necessary. Emissions from businesses where reaching net-zero emissions is more difficult, such as aviation, will be offset by extracting CO2 from the environment. Carbon can be removed using a variety of ways, including technical and land-based ones.

Otherwise, if progress is blocked or going fully in the wrong direction, efforts must be taken to change course. For example, by 2030, the world must drastically reduce deforestation and treble the pace of tree cover growth.

Proper utilization of Offsets for carbon reduction and achieving Net Zero

We cannot decrease global emissions in half unless we preserve and revitalise nature. Yet, because there is no either/or option here, it is critical to understand the role that offsets provide. Offsets in corporate climate strategies have received a lot of criticism in recent years since they are commonly used to postpone or replace the considerable expenditures that firms must make to reduce emissions throughout their value chain. This has significantly hampered the companies’ progress because they delay changing their operations to decrease pollution. Furthermore, there have been low-cost, poor offsets on the market, calling the validity of corporate net-zero commitments into question.

Fortunately, we are now experiencing a new form of corporate leadership as companies have begun to use high-quality offsets, such as investments in halting deforestation or restoring wetlands, in addition to their science-based carbon reduction activities. Offsets must be used in this manner so that they function as a tool to increase ambition rather than delay action.

Improving how firms in the food, land, and agriculture industries use land is a critical component of lowering emissions. Businesses in these areas must now adopt the Science Based Target Initiatives’ guidelines to eliminate tropical deforestation and other types of ecological degradation from supply chains by 2025.

Net zero Training

Businesses must consider how to avoid disruptions to the communities and workforces on whom they rely as high-carbon industries transition away from fossil fuels. This area includes thinking about how to give net zero training for staff or other options.

IEMA Pathways to Net Zero Training

At NIST Global, we provide environment and sustainability courses such as the Pathways to net zero course, which focuses solely on net zero approaches and technologies for reducing carbon emissions. Decarbonisation training courses for enterprises and corporations are becoming increasingly important as the climatic issue worsens. The Paths to Net Zero course is designed to provide managers and leaders with a strategic and practical awareness of environmental challenges and sustainability as they apply to their specific sector of work and business.

For further details on IEMA Pathways to Net Zero Training, kindly call our experts @ +91 8056000530.