What is the Difference Between Carbon Neutral and Net Zero?

Carbon neutral and net zero are terms used to describe different actions that contribute to combating climate change. While they may seem similar, they have distinct differences:

• Carbon Neutral: This refers to balancing out the total amount of carbon emissions. It involves measuring emissions and then offsetting the balance, typically with carbon offsets, without necessarily reducing the actual emissions. Carbon neutrality focuses on neutralizing carbon emissions only, and critics argue that this can encourage organizations to avoid meaningful efforts to reduce emissions.
• Net Zero: This means there is no net release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere. Net zero goes beyond just carbon emissions and covers the neutralization of all GHGs, such as methane and sulfur dioxide. To achieve net zero, at least 90% of emissions must be abated, and the remaining emissions need to be balanced with removals or offsets. Net zero objectives focus on both internal solutions (reducing emissions) and external solutions (carbon removal projects).

In summary, the main difference between carbon neutral and net zero lies in the scope of emissions they address and the strategies used to achieve their goals. Carbon neutrality focuses on balancing carbon emissions, while net zero aims to achieve a broader balance of all greenhouse gas emissions by reducing emissions and implementing carbon removal projects.

Comparative Table: Carbon Neutral vs Net Zero

Carbon neutral and net zero are two terms related to climate commitments made by organizations, but they have distinct differences. Here is a table summarizing the differences between carbon neutral and net zero:

Both carbon neutrality and net zero share the common goal of reducing and balancing carbon emissions to mitigate climate change. However, net zero has a broader scope, as it includes all greenhouse gases, while carbon neutrality focuses specifically on carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, achieving net zero often involves a more comprehensive approach, including reducing emissions and investing in projects that remove remaining emissions from the atmosphere.