What is the difference between carbon neutral and net zero?

What is the difference between carbon neutral and net zero?

Net zero and carbon neutral are both terms that describe the balance between the greenhouse gas emissions that are produced and removed from the atmosphere. However, they have some differences in scope and meaning. Here is a brief summary of the differences:

• Net zero means that the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that are emitted by human activity is equal to the amount that is removed by natural or artificial means, such as forests, oceans, or carbon capture and storage technologies. Net zero covers all types of GHGs, not just carbon dioxide (CO2), and applies to the whole supply chain of an organization or a country. Net zero is considered the gold standard for corporate climate action and is aligned with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

• Carbon neutral means that the amount of CO2 that is emitted by a specific activity or a part of an organization is offset by reducing or removing an equivalent amount of CO2 from the atmosphere. Carbon neutral only focuses on CO2, not other GHGs, and may not include the entire value chain of an organization or a country. Carbon neutral is a more flexible term that allows for different methods of offsetting emissions, such as investing in renewable energy projects, planting trees, or buying carbon credits.

Both net zero and carbon neutral are important steps towards achieving a low-carbon future and mitigating the effects of climate change. However, net zero is more ambitious and comprehensive than carbon neutral, and requires more actions to reduce and remove emissions across all sectors and sources.