According to the European Climate Law, the European Union is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. But what exactly does this mean? In this article, we will explore the concept of carbon neutrality in depth, its implications, and its importance in the fight against climate change.
Carbon neutrality: definition and Key Concepts
Definition of carbon neutrality
Carbon neutrality, often referred to as "net zero," represents a balance between carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and the absorption of this gas by carbon sinks on a global scale. The goal is to minimize greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and then increase the capacity of carbon sinks to absorb the remaining emissions, aiming to achieve equilibrium between emissions and CO2 absorption.
Achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 is crucial to addressing the challenges of global warming and the warnings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The European Parliament defines carbon neutrality as a "balance between carbon emissions and the absorption of carbon from the atmosphere by carbon sinks." In other words, carbon neutrality means not emitting more GHGs than what natural sinks can absorb.
Understanding greenhouse gases
While CO2 often gets the most attention, it’s not the only greenhouse gas. The main GHGs include:
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Carbon dioxide (CO2): Produced from fossil fuel combustion and deforestation, it serves as the reference for measuring the impact of other GHGs (Global Warming Potential = 1). It stays in the atmosphere for 100 to 300 years. As the most abundant GHG, CO2 is the unit of measurement for all GHGs, referred to as CO2e (e for equivalent).
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Methane (CH4): Originating from agriculture, livestock, landfills, and natural gas leaks, it is 28 times more powerful than CO2 over 100 years, though it remains in the atmosphere for about 12 years.
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Nitrous oxide (N2O): Mainly emitted by agriculture (nitrogen fertilizers) and industrial processes, it has a GWP of 265 over 100 years and a lifespan of about 114 years in the atmosphere.
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Fluorinated gases (HFCs, PFCs, SF6): Used in refrigerants, aerosols, and the electronics industry, these gases have very high GWPs, ranging from 1,300 to 23,000, with lifespans from a few years to several thousand years.
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Tropospheric ozone: Formed by chemical reactions between nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, its GWP is difficult to quantify due to its short lifespan (a few weeks).
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Water vapor (H2O): Mainly from natural evaporation, but increased by climate change. Although it's the most abundant GHG, its direct impact on warming is minor and complex to measure because of its very short atmospheric lifespan.
💡 It's important to note that while some gases have higher GWPs than CO2, their overall impact may be smaller due to their lower concentrations in the atmosphere. CO2 remains the main contributor to global warming because of its high quantity and long atmospheric lifespan.
Carbon sinks: a crucial pillar
A carbon sink is a natural or artificial reservoir that absorbs and stores more carbon than it emits. In other words, it's a system capable of capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and storing it long-term, thus reducing the concentration of this greenhouse gas in the air.
The main types of carbon sinks are:
Natural carbon sinks:
- Forests and vegetation: Plants absorb CO2 during photosynthesis.
- Oceans: They absorb a significant amount of atmospheric CO2.
- Soils: They store organic carbon from plant and organism decomposition.
💡 Did you know? Natural carbon sinks remove between 9.5 and 11 gigatonnes of CO2 annually. However, they cannot fully offset the 37.8 gigatonnes of CO2 emitted globally each year (2021 data). This underscores the importance of reducing emissions at the source while preserving (making more resilient to forest fires, preventing land degradation, etc.) and increasing (revegetating, transforming soils, replanting, etc.) the capacity of carbon sinks.
Even if the Earth were entirely covered by forests, the maximum absorption capacity of our carbon sinks couldn't offset current emissions. This is why significantly reducing emissions quickly is our only option.
Artificial carbon sinks:
- Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies: Technological systems that capture CO2 directly at the source or from the atmosphere, and then store it.
- Certain building materials: For example, concrete can absorb CO2 over time.
💡 Note: To date, no artificial carbon sink can remove carbon from the atmosphere at a scale sufficient to combat global warming. These technologies are under development, but large-scale deployment remains a challenge.
Why aim for carbon neutrality?
The concept of carbon neutrality was popularized during the 2015 Paris Agreement, which advocates for reaching the global peak of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and achieving a balance between anthropogenic emissions and removals by sinks during the second half of the century.
Its primary goal is to limit global warming to below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels. Beyond this threshold, the consequences of climate change could become catastrophic and irreversible.
Strategies for achieving carbon neutrality
The European Green Deal
To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the European Union has implemented the European Green Deal. This ambitious roadmap aims to:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels)
- Invest in green technologies
- Promote the circular economy
- Restore biodiversity
- Decarbonize the energy sector
Challenges of carbon neutrality
Achieving carbon neutrality poses numerous challenges:
- Transforming economies and lifestyles: A transition to more sustainable practices requires profound changes.
- High costs: The necessary investments for the energy transition are significant but essential.
- International cooperation: Achieving carbon neutrality requires global coordination.
- Technological development: New technologies will play a key role, but they still need to be perfected and deployed at scale.
- Behavioral changes: The transition also requires actions at both individual and collective levels.
Can a company achieve carbon neutrality?
Companies have a crucial role to play in achieving carbon neutrality. Here are the main steps they can follow:
Reduce their carbon emissions
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- Optimize energy efficiency to reduce energy consumption;
- Rethink their business model, products, and services in light of their carbon impact;
- Switch to renewable energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels;
- Rethink production processes and supply chains to minimize emissions;
- Encourage sustainable work practices (remote work, green transportation).
Preserve natural carbon sinks:
- Support reforestation projects;
- Invest in ecosystem protection;
- Adopt sustainable agricultural practices to protect soils and forests.
Offset residual emissions:
- Invest in certified carbon offset projects;
- Develop carbon capture and storage technologies.
In conclusion
Carbon neutrality is an ambitious but necessary goal for effectively combating climate change. It requires a profound transformation of our societies, economies, and individual behaviors. Every stakeholder, from governments to individuals and companies, has a role to play in this transition.
How Climeet can help
At Climeet, we understand the importance of carbon neutrality and the challenges it poses for organizations. Our solution helps measure, manage, and reduce the carbon footprint of your events. By using Climeet, you can:
- Accurately measure the carbon impact of your events;
- Identify the main sources of emissions and target areas for improvement;
- Implement effective reduction strategies to minimize your ecological footprint;
- Track your progress towards sustainability goals to ensure continuous improvement.
By addressing the carbon footprint of your events, you contribute to the global effort towards carbon neutrality. Together, we can make a difference and create a more sustainable future for all.
