Article
5 Things to Know About Global Carbon Neutrality
January 2023
Neutrality & Net Zero
Article
5 Things to Know About Global Carbon Neutrality
Resources from the Carbone 4 Academy
Would you like to understand what carbon neutrality means on a global scale, and what is expected of your organization to contribute appropriately to achieving this collective goal?
The Carbone 4 Academy presents what you need to know about carbon neutrality.
Achieving global carbon neutrality means reaching a state in which CO2 emissions from human activities are equal to CO2 removals by carbon sinks managed through human activities. It therefore represents a state of equilibrium between the inflows and outflows of human-caused CO2 entering and leaving the atmosphere.
Our current economic system relies on the continuous extraction of coal, natural gas, and oil from the ground. The use of these fossil fuels releases large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases (including CO2) in the atmosphere is causing the average temperature on the Earth’s surface to rise: this is global warming.
To avoid the catastrophic consequences of global warming, the signatory nations to the Paris Agreement have set a goal of limiting global warming to +1.5°C above the average temperature of the pre-industrial era.
The only way is to stop adding CO2 to the atmosphere—that is, to ensure that we do not emit more CO2 than carbon sinks can absorb; in other words, to achieve carbon neutrality.
Massive CO2 emissions into the atmosphere resulting from the use of fossil fuels and deforestation have already caused global warming of 1 degree in 2022 compared to pre-industrial levels. Furthermore, greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise and show no signs of slowing down.
Carbon sinks, on the other hand, are not in good shape: deforestation—and, more broadly, changes in land use—have turned natural carbon reservoirs into net emitters of greenhouse gases.
So, for now, we are not on track to achieve global carbon neutrality by 2050. It is essential that we quickly change course by reducing our emissions and restoring and preserving our carbon sinks.
At the heart of our economic model, the use of fossil fuels has been the main driver of rising greenhouse gas emissions since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution.
Carbon sinks can be restored and expanded, but their capacity will remain limited because the Earth’s surface is not infinite. Planting trees can help expand these sinks, but it is by no means sufficient.
To achieve a balance between emissions and removals, a massive reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is essential. At the same time, carbon sinks must regain their full sequestration potential by minimizing land-use changes and combating deforestation, while promoting reforestation and regenerative agriculture techniques.
Technologies for capturing and storing carbon in deep geological formations are currently being developed and could remove CO2 from the atmosphere, complementing natural carbon sinks. These deep geological formations may include former hydrocarbon reservoirs. These technologies are not yet fully mature, and it has not been demonstrated that they can be deployed on a large scale. The amount of CO2 that could be captured by these technological sinks is therefore highly uncertain. It is therefore risky not to reduce our emissions sufficiently right now while relying on the “miracles” of technologies that are still immature.
Achieving net-zero emissions on a global scale is an extremely ambitious goal that cannot be achieved without a profound transformation of our production and consumption patterns. Achieving sufficient emissions reductions while protecting and expanding our carbon sinks will require radical changes—at the corporate and government levels as well as among individuals. To do this, we must move beyond the incremental, “small steps” approach that has characterized climate action thus far and embark on truly qualitative changes. Businesses, in particular, will need to thoroughly reevaluate their business models and the types of solutions they offer. Managing their carbon footprint, in particular, must be viewed as the very first step in a broader strategy that must involve all of the company’s business units.
See also the 10 Essential Principles, the result of a collaborative effort carried out as part of the Net Zero Initiative, for an ambitious corporate climate strategy.
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