Countries and corporations around the world are talking about climate change over the next few decades, promising to achieve “net zero” carbon emissions or “carbon neutrality.” But as we get into the details, those promises are rarely fulfilled.
“I think it’s growing behind real obligations to get to zero. I think Christopher Greg, a senior researcher at the Center for Energy and the Environment in the Brain, ”Princeton University. Under pressure from shareholders, there are people who are basically obligated to do so.
United States To move to zero emissions by 2050. China By 2060, it has a similar goal. Since 2000. ECIU. Visa, Astrazenica and Alaska Airlines plan to eliminate carbon emissions by at least 2040, while other corporations, such as Apple, have set 100% of carbon-neutral supply chains and products by 2030.
Unfortunately, there are no standard guidelines for net zero or carbon neutral emissions. That means companies and countries can create their own interpretations.
Companies that promise to be carbon neutral do not promise to remove CO2 from their operations. Instead, they can support local projects that are self-sufficient. Examples are carbon offsets from groups that install renewable energy, plant and protect trees, or provide other ways to clean the atmosphere.
Those plans are not necessarily practical or helpful. For example, there are many places around the world to plant trees. According to a recent Oxfam report, the total amount of land needed for carbon offsets could be five times the size of India or equivalent to farmland on the planet.
Voluntary Carbon Market Loyalty Initiative Research Compensations of less than 5% actually remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
“Without a scientific basis and a true zero to the true zero … some of the results of these trades or these obligations can be easily unreliable,” said Rachel Kitte, secretary-general of the United Nations and Dean’s climate advisor. Fletcher School of Tuff University.
So what should corporations do to avoid empty green promises? “A corporation needs to be able to measure and verify emissions in its operations,” says Greg. And he must be able to measure, verify, and show the outside world how he is going on those targets.
The answer is not easy and requires resources and complex calculations. But many argue that these measures are necessary to reduce the risk of severe climate change.
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