Will Net Zero Policy Save us?

Is achieving Net Zero Emissions sufficient to save our planet, or is it a dangerous trap?

This post will look at the net zero emission policy and the concept of carbon tunnel vision. Let's get started!

Kensington Gardens, April 2021

Net-zero emissions policies aim to balance the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere with an equivalent amount removed, resulting in no net increase in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. These policies are widely seen as a crucial step in addressing climate change, but it's important to note that it is not a silver bullet for solving the problem.

Achieving net-zero emissions is an important step in addressing climate change, but it may not be enough to prevent dangerous levels of global warming. While reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero would stop the increase of atmospheric concentrations of these gases, it does not address the levels that are already present in the atmosphere.

Many scientists believe that to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change, global temperatures need to be kept to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and ideally 1.5 degrees Celsius. This requires not only reducing emissions to net zero but also removing some of the carbon dioxide that has already been emitted. This is known as "negative emissions" and it can be achieved through methods such as carbon capture and storage or reforestation. (We will talk about these negative emission technologies in the following post. Stay tuned, by the way!)

Additionally, achieving net-zero emissions alone would not address other important aspects of climate change such as sea level rise, ocean acidification, and the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems.

In summary, while net-zero emissions policies are an important step in addressing climate change, they are not the only solution and will require significant efforts from governments, businesses and individuals to be effectively implemented.

It's important to note that achieving net-zero emissions targets will be challenging and require changes in all sectors of the economy, the use of new technologies, and a significant increase in the deployment of renewable energy sources. Also, many countries are yet to announce their net-zero targets, and even those that have announced are not yet on track to meet them.

We should move beyond "Carbon tunnel vision"

"Carbon tunnel vision" is a phrase that is used to describe a narrow focus on carbon dioxide emissions as the only solution to address climate change. It suggests that other important issues like deforestation, natural carbon sequestration, and other greenhouse gases are overlooked in the process of addressing climate change. It implies that the focus is solely on carbon dioxide emissions reduction, without considering other important aspects of climate change such as adaptation, and the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems. A comprehensive approach to addressing climate change should include not only reducing carbon dioxide emissions but also protecting and restoring natural carbon sinks, increasing energy efficiency, and investing in renewable energy sources.

Moving beyond "carbon tunnel vision" and achieving net-zero emissions will require a comprehensive and holistic approach that addresses multiple aspects of climate change, rather than focusing solely on reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Some steps that can be taken to achieve this include:

1. Prioritizing renewable energy: Increasing the use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power is crucial for reducing emissions from the energy sector.

2. Investing in energy efficiency: Improving energy efficiency in buildings, transportation, and industry can help to reduce overall energy demand, which in turn will help to reduce emissions.

3. Implementing carbon pricing: Putting a price on carbon can create an economic incentive for companies and individuals to reduce their emissions.

4. Increasing carbon sequestration: Protecting and restoring natural carbon sinks such as forests, wetlands, and grasslands can help to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

5. Investing in negative emissions technologies: Technologies such as carbon capture and storage and direct air capture can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and help to achieve net-zero emissions.

6. Addressing other greenhouse gases: Reducing emissions of other greenhouse gases such as methane, nitrous oxide and HFCs is important to address the climate change holistically.

7. Adapting to changing climate: Adapting to the impacts of climate change such as sea level rise, more frequent and severe heat waves, and changes in precipitation patterns is crucial, and it should be a part of the climate change strategy.

8. Encouraging international cooperation: Addressing climate change will require cooperation between countries to share technology, knowledge, and best practices.

9. Encouraging public engagement and education: Educating the public about the causes and impacts of climate change, and encouraging individuals and communities to take action is an important step.

10. Analysing the life cycle impact assessment can help us better understand how net-zero or negative emissions technologies will affect other environmental impact categories, such as eutrophication, acidification, toxicity, and others, in addition to climate change.

Long story short- what we need is to switch from a short-term to a more long-term perspective!