{{Short description|Rate of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions}} {{redirect|Net zero|the internet service provider|NetZero}} [[File:Global CO2 Pathways Using Remaining Carbon Budgets.svg|thumb|upright=1.3|Different climate targets and the corresponding date to reach net zero {{CO2}} emissions|alt=To keep global warming under 1.5 degrees, net zero needs to be reached before 2040. To keep global warming under 1.7 degrees, net zero would need to be reached just after 2050, and for 2 degrees of warming, net zero would have to be reached before 2080.]] Global '''net-zero emissions''' are reached when [[greenhouse gas emissions]] and [[Carbon dioxide removal|removals]] due to human activities are in balance. ''Net-zero emissions'' is often shortened to '''''net zero'''''. Once global net zero is achieved, further [[global warming]] is expected to significantly slow down, but the effects of existing atmospheric greenhouse gases will still contribute to continued warming.<ref name=":11" />

''Emissions'' can refer to all greenhouse gases or only to carbon dioxide ({{CO2}}).<ref name=":11">{{cite journal |last1=Fankhauser |first1=Sam |last2=Smith |first2=Stephen M. |last3=Allen |first3=Myles |last4=Axelsson |first4=Kaya |last5=Hale |first5=Thomas |last6=Hepburn |first6=Cameron |last7=Kendall |first7=J. Michael |last8=Khosla |first8=Radhika |last9=Lezaun |first9=Javier |last10=Mitchell-Larson |first10=Eli |last11=Obersteiner |first11=Michael |last12=Rajamani |first12=Lavanya |last13=Rickaby |first13=Rosalind |last14=Seddon |first14=Nathalie |last15=Wetzer |first15=Thom |display-authors=1|date=2022 |title=The meaning of net zero and how to get it right |journal=[[Nature Climate Change]] |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=15–21 |bibcode=2022NatCC..12...15F |doi=10.1038/s41558-021-01245-w |doi-access=free}}</ref> Reaching net zero is necessary to slow [[global warming]].<ref name=":19" /> It requires deep cuts in emissions, for example by shifting from [[fossil fuel]]s to [[sustainable energy]], improving energy efficiency and halting [[deforestation]]. A small remaining fraction of emissions can then be offset using [[carbon dioxide removal]].

People often use the terms ''net-zero emissions'', '''''carbon neutrality''','' and '''''climate neutrality''''' with the same meaning.<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":9" />{{Rp|pages=22–24}} However, in some cases, these terms have different meanings.<ref name=":13" /> For example, some standards for ''carbon neutral certification'' allow a lot of [[carbon offsetting]]. But ''net zero standards'' require reducing emissions to more than 90% and then only offsetting the remaining 10% or less to fall in line with 1.5&nbsp;°C targets.<ref name=":12" /> Organizations often [[Carbon offsets and credits|offset]] their residual emissions by buying [[carbon credits]].

In the early 2020s net zero became the main framework for [[climate action]]. Many countries and organizations are setting net zero targets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Net Zero: A short history |url=https://eciu.net/analysis/infographics/net-zero-history |access-date=17 April 2023 |website=Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Net Zero Tracker |url=http://netzerotracker.net/ |access-date=17 April 2023 |website=netzerotracker.net |archive-date=29 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329094942/http://netzerotracker.net/ }}</ref> As of November 2023, around 145 countries had announced or are considering net zero targets, covering close to 90% of global emissions.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |title=CAT net zero target evaluations |url=https://climateactiontracker.org/global/cat-net-zero-target-evaluations/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=climateactiontracker.org |language=en}}</ref> They include some countries that were resistant to climate action in previous decades.<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":0" /> Country-level net zero targets now cover 92% of global [[GDP]], 88% of emissions, and 89% of the world population.<ref name=":0" /> 65% of the largest 2,000 publicly traded companies by annual revenue<ref name=":0" /> have net zero targets. Among [[Fortune 500]] companies, the percentage is 63%.<ref name=":17">{{Cite web |title=Big companies keep increasing their climate commitments—especially when governments tell them to |url=https://fortune.com/2022/09/21/companies-net-zero-emissions-government-demands/ |access-date=17 April 2023 |website=Fortune |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":18">{{Cite web |title=Taking stock: A global assessment of net zero targets |url=https://eciu.net/analysis/reports/2021/taking-stock-assessment-net-zero-targets |access-date=29 March 2023 |website=Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit |date=25 October 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Company targets can result from both voluntary action and government [[regulation]].

Net zero claims vary enormously in how credible they are, but most have low credibility despite the increasing number of commitments and targets.<ref name="apnews.com">{{Cite web |date=11 June 2023 |title=More companies setting 'net-zero' climate targets, but few have credible plans, report says |url=https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-net-zero-report-7b791ade530432caea4ef3a4ffe0fb4e |access-date=31 July 2023 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> While 61% of global [[carbon dioxide]] emissions are covered by some sort of net zero target, credible targets cover only 7% of emissions. This low credibility reflects a lack of binding regulation. It is also due to the need for continued innovation and investment to make [[decarbonization]] possible.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Get Net Zero Right|publisher=[[UNFCC]] |url=https://racetozero.unfccc.int/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Get-Net-Zero-right-2.pdf}}</ref>

To date, 27 countries have enacted domestic net zero legislation. These are laws that contain net zero targets or equivalent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Evolving regulation of companies in climate change framework laws |url=https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/news/evolving-regulation-of-companies-in-climate-change-framework-laws/ |access-date=26 July 2023 |website=Grantham Research Institute on climate change and the environment |language=en-GB}}</ref> There is currently no national regulation in place that legally requires companies based in that country to achieve net zero. However several countries, for example Switzerland, are developing such legislation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Federal Act on Climate Protection Goals, Innovation and Strengthening Energy Security - Climate Change Laws of the World |url=https://climate-laws.org/document/federal-act-on-climate-protection-goals-innovation-and-strengthening-energy-security_d8b9 |access-date=26 July 2023 |website=climate-laws.org |language=en}}</ref>

==History and scientific justification == The idea of net-zero came out of research in the late 2000s into how the atmosphere, oceans and [[carbon cycle]] were reacting to CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. This research found that [[global warming]] will significantly slow down only if {{CO2}} emissions are reduced to net zero, although existing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will still contribute to continued warming.<ref name=":19">{{Cite journal |last1=Allen |first1=Myles R. |last2=Friedlingstein |first2=Pierre |last3=Girardin |first3=Cécile A.J. |last4=Jenkins |first4=Stuart |last5=Malhi |first5=Yadvinder |last6=Mitchell-Larson |first6=Eli |last7=Peters |first7=Glen P. |last8=Rajamani |first8=Lavanya |display-authors=1|date=17 October 2022 |title=Net Zero: Science, Origins, and Implications |journal=Annual Review of Environment and Resources |language=en |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=849–887 |doi=10.1146/annurev-environ-112320-105050 |s2cid=251891777 |issn=1543-5938|doi-access=free |hdl=11250/3118584 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> Net-zero was basic to the goals of the [[Paris Agreement]]. This stated that the world must "achieve a balance between anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by [[Carbon cycle|sinks]] of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century". The term "net zero" gained popularity after the [[Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change]] published its [[Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5&nbsp;°C|Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5&nbsp;°C (SR15)]] in October of 2018, this report stated that "Reaching and sustaining net zero global anthropogenic [human-caused] CO<sub>2</sub> emissions and declining net non-CO<sub>2</sub> [[radiative forcing]] would halt anthropogenic global warming on multi-decadal timescales (''high confidence'')."<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Global Warming of 1.5&nbsp;°C |url=https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/ |access-date=17 April 2023}}</ref> An influential and now highly-cited scientific review on "Net-zero emissions energy systems" was also published in June of 2018, which was the first to assess the special challenges of not just reducing energy-related GHG emissions but actually reaching net-zero.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Davis |first1=Steven J. |last2=Lewis |first2=Nathan S.|last3=Shaner |first3=Matthew |last4=Aggarwal |first4=Sonia |last5=Arent |first5=Doug |last6=Azevedo |first6=Inês L. |last7=Benson |first7=Sally M. |last8=Bradley |first8=Thomas |last9=Brouwer |first9=Jack |last10=Chiang |first10=Yet-Ming |last11=Clack |first11=Christopher T.M. |last12=Cohen |first12=Armond |last13=Doig |first13=Stephen |last14=Edmonds |first14=Jae |last15=Fennell |first15=Paul |last16=Field |first16=Christopher B. |last17=Hannegan |first17=Bryan |last18=Hodge |first18=Bri-Mathias |last19=Hoffert |first19=Martin I. |last20=Ingersoll |first20=Eric |last21=Jaramillo |first21=Paulina |last22=Lackner |first22=Klaus S. |last23=Mach |first23=Katharine J. |last24=Mastrandrea |first24=Michael |last25=Ogden |first25=Joan |last26=Peterson |first26=Per F. |last27=Sanchez |first27=Daniel L. |last28=Sperling |first28=Daniel |last29=Stagner |first29=Joseph |last30=Trancik |first30=Jessika E. |last31=Yang |first31=Chi-Jen |last32=Caldeira |first32=Ken |display-authors=1|date=29 June 2018 |title=Net-zero emissions energy systems |journal=Science |language=en |volume=360 |issue=6396 |article-number=eaas9793 |doi=10.1126/science.aas9793 }}</ref>

The idea of net-zero emissions is often confused with "stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere", a term from the 1992 [[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change|Rio Convention]]. The two concepts are not the same. This is because the carbon cycle continuously ''[[Carbon sequestration|sequesters]]'' or absorbs a small portion of human-caused atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> into vegetation and the ocean, even after CO<sub>2</sub> emissions are reduced to zero.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Hausfather |first=Zeke |date=2021-04-29 |title=Explainer: Will global warming 'stop' as soon as net-zero emissions are reached? |url=https://www.carbonbrief.org/explainer-will-global-warming-stop-as-soon-as-net-zero-emissions-are-reached/ |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=Carbon Brief |language=en}}</ref> If CO<sub>2</sub> emissions from human activities are reduced to net zero, the concentration of CO<sub>2</sub> in the atmosphere would decline. This would be at a rate just fast enough to compensate for the [[Ocean temperature#Ocean warming|slow warming of the deep ocean]]. The result would be approximately constant global average surface temperatures over decades or centuries. In contrast, stabilising atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> concentrations would allow for some ongoing emissions, but global temperatures would continue to rise over many centuries due to the ocean's [[Climate inertia|delayed response]] to warming.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Solomon |first1=Susan |last2=Plattner |first2=Gian-Kasper |last3=Knutti |first3=Reto |last4=Friedlingstein |first4=Pierre |date=2009-02-10 |title=Irreversible climate change due to carbon dioxide emissions |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |language=en |volume=106 |issue=6 |pages=1704–1709 |doi=10.1073/pnas.0812721106 |doi-access=free |issn=0027-8424 |pmc=2632717 |pmid=19179281|bibcode=2009PNAS..106.1704S }}</ref><ref name=":1" />

=== Types of greenhouse gas === It will be quicker to reach net-zero emissions for CO<sub>2</sub> alone rather than CO<sub>2</sub> plus other greenhouse gases like [[methane]], [[nitrous oxide]] and [[fluorinated gases]].<ref name=":10">{{Cite journal |last1=Levin |first1=Kelly |last2=Fransen |first2=Taryn |last3=Schumer |first3=Clea |last4=Davis |first4=Chantal |last5=Boehm |first5=Sophie |display-authors=1|date=2023-03-20 |title=What Does "Net-Zero Emissions" Mean? 8 Common Questions, Answered |url=https://www.wri.org/insights/net-zero-ghg-emissions-questions-answered |journal=World Resources Institute |language=en}}{{Creative Commons text attribution notice|cc=by4|from this source=yes}}</ref> The net-zero target date for non-CO<sub>2</sub> emissions is later partly because [[Climate model|modellers]] assume that some of these emissions such as methane from farming are harder to phase out.<ref name=":10" /> Emissions of [[Short-lived climate pollutant|short-lived gases]] such as methane do not accumulate in the climate system in the same way that CO<sub>2</sub> does. Therefore there is no need to reduce them to zero to halt global warming. This is because reductions in emissions of short-lived gases cause an immediate decline in the resulting [[radiative forcing]]. Radiative forcing is the change in the Earth's energy balance that they cause.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pierrehumbert |first=R.T. |date=2014-05-30 |title=Short-Lived Climate Pollution |journal=Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences |language=en |volume=42 |issue=1 |pages=341–379 |doi=10.1146/annurev-earth-060313-054843 |issn=0084-6597|doi-access=free |bibcode=2014AREPS..42..341P }}</ref> However, these potent but short-lived gases will drive temperatures higher in the short term. This could possibly push the rise in temperature past the 1.5&nbsp;°C threshold much earlier.<ref name=":10" />{{Clarify|reason=much earlier than what? And is this still true?|date=April 2025}}A comprehensive net-zero emissions target would include all greenhouse gases.<ref name=":10" />

Some targets aim to reach net-zero emissions only for carbon dioxide. Others aim to reach net-zero emissions of all greenhouse gases.<ref name=":13" /> Robust net zero standards state that all greenhouse gases should be covered by a given actor's targets.<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":42" /><ref name=":52">{{Cite web |title=IWA 42:2022 Net zero guidelines |url=https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/en/#iso:std:iso:iwa:42:ed-1:v1:en |access-date=17 July 2023 |website=www.iso.org}}</ref><ref name=":12" />

Some authors say that carbon neutrality strategies focus only on carbon dioxide, but net zero includes all greenhouse gases.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Net Zero vs. Carbon Neutral |url=https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/esg/net-zero-vs-carbon-neutral/ |access-date=18 July 2023 |website=Corporate Finance Institute |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 August 2022 |title=Carbon neutral and net zero – what do they mean? |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/08/carbon-neutral-net-zero-sustainability-climate-change/ |access-date=20 July 2023 |website=World Economic Forum |language=en}}</ref> However some publications, such as the national strategy of France, use the term "carbon neutral" to mean net reductions of all greenhouse gases.<ref name=":13" /> The United States has pledged to achieve "net zero" emissions by 2050.<ref name=":18" /> As of March 2021 it had not specified which greenhouse gases will be included in its target.<ref name=":13" />

== Terminology == Countries, local governments, corporations, and financial institutions may all announce pledges for achieving to reach net-zero emissions.<ref name=":32">{{Cite book |last=United Nations' High‑Level Expert Group on the Net Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities |url=https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/high-level-expert-group |title=Integrity Matters: Net Zero Commitments by Businesses, Financial Institutions, Cities and Regions |collaboration= |publisher=[[United Nations]] |year=2022}}</ref>

In climate change discussions, the terms ''net zero, carbon neutrality, and'' ''climate neutrality'' are often used as if they mean the same thing.<ref name=":13">{{Cite journal |last1=Rogelj |first1=Joeri |author-link=Joeri Rogelj |last2=Geden |first2=Oliver |last3=Cowie |first3=Annette |last4=Reisinger |first4=Andy |date=16 March 2021 |title=Net-zero emissions targets are vague: three ways to fix |journal=Nature |volume=591 |issue=7850 |pages=365–368 |doi=10.1038/d41586-021-00662-3 |issn=1476-4687 |pmid=33727725|bibcode=2021Natur.591..365R |hdl=10044/1/87657 |hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=What does carbon neutral mean and what is net zero? |url=https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/quick-questions/what-do-carbon-neutral-and-net-zero-mean.html |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=[[Natural History Museum, London]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=26 February 2021 |title=A Beginner's Guide to Climate Neutrality |url=https://unfccc.int/blog/a-beginner-s-guide-to-climate-neutrality |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=United Nations Climate Change}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite report |url=https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/environment/understanding-countries-net-zero-emissions-targets_8d25a20c-en |title=Understanding countries' net-zero emissions targets |last1=Jeudy-Hugo |first1=Sirini |last2=Re |first2=Luca Lo |date=2021-10-27 |publisher=OECD |doi=10.1787/8d25a20c-en |location=Paris |language=en |last3=Falduto |first3=Chiara|series=OECD/IEA Climate Change Expert Group Papers |doi-access=free }}</ref>{{Rp|pages=22–24}} In some contexts, however, they have different meanings from each other. The sections below explain this.<ref name=":13" /> People often use these terms without rigorous standard definitions.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Murray |first1=Joy |last2=Dey |first2=Christopher |date=2009-03-01 |title=The carbon neutral free for all |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1750583608000698 |journal=International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=237–248 |doi=10.1016/j.ijggc.2008.07.004 |bibcode=2009IJGGC...3..237M |issn=1750-5836|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name=":13" />

== Approaches == [[File:Our Climate Goals.png|thumb|The terms 'carbon neutral' and 'net zero' are often used interchangeably by politicians, businesses and scientists. Some experts use the terms differently, as illustrated by this graphic.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Untangling our climate goals |url=https://eciu.net/analysis/infographics/our-climate-goals |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit |language=en}}</ref>]]A given actor may plan to achieve net-zero emissions through a combination of approaches. These would include (1) actions to reduce their own emissions, (2) actions to reduce the emissions of others (third parties), and (3) actions to directly [[Carbon dioxide removal|remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere]] (carbon sinks).<ref name=":13" />

=== Reducing emissions === Robust net zero standards require actors to reduce their own emissions as much as possible following science-based pathways. They must then balance their residual emissions using removals and offsets.<ref name=":32" />{{Rp|page=12}} This typically involves shifting from fossil fuels to [[sustainable energy]] sources. Residual emissions are emissions that are not practical to reduce for technological reasons.<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last1=Buck |first1=Holly Jean |last2=Carton |first2=Wim |last3=Lund |first3=Jens Friis |last4=Markusson |first4=Nils |date=April 2023 |title=Why residual emissions matter right now |journal=Nature Climate Change |language=en |volume=13 |issue=4 |pages=351–358 |bibcode=2023NatCC..13..351B |doi=10.1038/s41558-022-01592-2 |issn=1758-6798 |s2cid=248470852 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

Another key measure to reduce emissions is increasing efficiency. Historically, improved [[Energy conversion efficiency|energy efficiency]] has been the most successful measure to reduce emissions. Policies to improve efficiencies include setting [[fuel efficiency standards]] for cars and promoting [[building insulation]] and [[public transport]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Rosenow |first1=Jan |last2=Eyre |first2=Nick |date=2022-08-01 |title=Reinventing energy efficiency for net zero |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214629622001062 |journal=Energy Research & Social Science |volume=90 |article-number=102602 |doi=10.1016/j.erss.2022.102602 |bibcode=2022ERSS...9002602R |issn=2214-6296|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Experts and net zero frameworks disagree over the exact percentage of residual emissions that may be allowed.<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":42" /><ref name=":52" /><ref name=":12" /> Most guidance suggests this should be limited to a small fraction of total emissions. Sector-specific and geographical factors would determine how much.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How can companies handle so-called 'residual emissions'? - CDP |url=https://www.cdp.net/en/articles/climate/how-can-companies-handle-so-called-residual-emissions |access-date=17 July 2023 |website=www.cdp.net |language=en |archive-date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718082936/https://www.cdp.net/en/articles/climate/how-can-companies-handle-so-called-residual-emissions }}</ref><ref name=":6" /> The Science Based Targets initiative says that residual emissions across most sectors should fall to below 10% of an organization's baseline emissions by 2050. It should be even lower for some sectors with competitive alternatives like the power sector.<ref name=":12" /><ref>{{Citation |title=Pathways to Net-Zero: SBTi Technical Summary |url=https://sciencebasedtargets.org/resources/files/Pathway-to-Net-Zero.pdf |date=October 2021 |pages=5–6|access-date=5 December 2024 |website=sciencebasedtargets.org}}</ref> Sectors such as heavy manufacturing where it is harder to mitigate emissions will probably have a higher percentage of residual emissions by 2050.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The net-zero transition for hard-to-abate sectors {{!}} McKinsey |url=https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/sustainability/our-insights/sectors-are-unevenly-exposed-in-the-net-zero-transition |access-date=18 July 2023 |website=www.mckinsey.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=24 February 2020 |title=Unlocking the "Hard to Abate" Sectors |url=https://www.wri.org/climate/expert-perspective/unlocking-hard-abate-sectors |access-date=18 July 2023 |website=World Resources Institute |language=en}}</ref>{{Additional citation needed|date=December 2024|reason=not found in sources}}

The ISO and [[BSI Group|British Standards Institution (BSI)]] publish "carbon neutrality" standards that have higher tolerance for residual emissions than "net zero" standards.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=PAS 2060 - Carbon Neutrality Standard and Certification |url=https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/pas-2060-carbon-neutrality/ |access-date=18 July 2023 |website=www.bsigroup.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> For example, [[BSI PAS 2060]] is a British standard for measuring carbon neutrality. According to these standards, carbon neutrality is a short-term target, and net zero is a longer-term target.<ref name=":52" /><ref name=":02">{{Cite web |title=Race to Zero Lexicon |url=https://racetozero.unfccc.int/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Race-to-Zero-Lexicon.pdf}}</ref>

=== Carbon removals and offsets === {{Further|Carbon dioxide removal|Carbon offsets and credits}} To balance residual emissions, actors may take direct action to [[Carbon dioxide removal|remove carbon dioxide]] from the atmosphere and sequester it. Alternatively or in addition they can buy [[Carbon offsets and credits|carbon credits that "offset" emissions]]. Carbon credits can be used to fund [[carbon removal]] projects such as [[reforestation]].

Strong standards such as the ISO and BSI "net zero" standards only allow removal-based offsets that have the same permanence as the greenhouse gases that they balance. The term for this concept is "like for like" removals.<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":42" /><ref name=":52" /><ref name=":12" /> ''Permanence'' means that removals must store greenhouse gases for the same period as the lifetime of the GHG emissions they balance.<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":42" /><ref name=":52" /><ref name=":12" /> For example, methane has a lifetime of around 12 years in the atmosphere.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Methane and climate change – Global Methane Tracker 2022 – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/global-methane-tracker-2022/methane-and-climate-change |access-date=18 July 2023 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref> Carbon dioxide lasts between 300 and 1,000 years.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=The Atmosphere: Getting a Handle on Carbon Dioxide |url=https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2915/the-atmosphere-getting-a-handle-on-carbon-dioxide |access-date=18 July 2023 |website=Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet|date= 9 October 2019}}</ref> Accordingly, removals that balance carbon dioxide must last much longer than removals that balance methane.

Carbon credits can also fund initiatives that aim to avoid emissions. One example would be [[Efficient energy use|energy efficiency]] retrofits or [[renewable energy]] projects. Avoided emissions offsets result from actions that reduce emissions relative to a baseline or status quo. But they do not remove emissions from the atmosphere. Weak standards such as ISO and BSI "carbon neutrality" standards allow organizations to use avoided-emissions carbon credits. They do not specify how permanent or durable a credit must be.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":8" />

[[Carbon offsetting]] has been criticized on several fronts. One important concern is that offsets may delay active emissions reductions.<ref name=":72">{{Cite book |last=Climate Change Committee |url=https://www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Voluntary-carbon-markets-and-offsetting-Final.pdf |title=Voluntary Carbon Markets and Offsetting |publisher=UK Government |year=2022 |page=38 |type=Government Report}}</ref> In a 2007 report from the [[Transnational Institute]], Kevin Smith likened carbon offsets to medieval indulgences. He said they allowed people to pay "offset companies to absolve them of their carbon sins."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Kevin |title=The carbon neutral myth: offset indulgences for your climate sins |date=2007 |publisher=Transnational Institute |others=Oscar Reyes, Timothy Byakola, Carbon Trade Watch |isbn=978-90-71007-18-7 |location=Amsterdam |oclc=778008109}}</ref> He said this permits a "business as usual" attitude that stifles required major changes. Many people have criticized offsets for playing a part in [[greenwashing]]. This argument appeared in a 2021 watchdog ruling against [[Shell plc|Shell]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 August 2021 |title=Dutch Ad Watchdog Tells Shell to Pull 'Carbon Neutral' Campaign |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-27/dutch-ad-watchdog-tells-shell-to-pull-carbon-neutral-campaign |access-date=2 December 2022 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}</ref>

Loose regulation of claims by carbon offsetting schemes combined with the difficulties in calculating greenhouse gas sequestration and emissions reductions has also given rise to criticism. This argument is that this can result in schemes that do not adequately offset emissions in reality.<ref name=":72" /> There have been moves to create better regulation. The United Nations has operated a certification process for carbon offsets since 2001. This is called the [[Clean Development Mechanism]].<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web |title=CDM: About CDM |url=https://cdm.unfccc.int/about/index.html |access-date=2 December 2022 |website=cdm.unfccc.int}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=United Nations online platform for voluntary cancellation of certified emission reductions (CERs) |url=https://offset.climateneutralnow.org/ |access-date=2 December 2022 |website=offset.climateneutralnow.org}}</ref> It aims to stimulate "sustainable development and emission reductions, while giving industrialized countries some flexibility in how they meet their emission reduction limitation targets."<ref name="auto2" /> The UK Government's Climate Change Committee says reported emissions reductions or removals may have happened anyway or. not last into the future. This is despite an improvement in standards globally and in the UK.<ref name=":72" />

There has also been criticisms of non-native and monocultural forest plantations as carbon offsets. This is because of their "limited—and at times negative—effects on native biodiversity" and other [[ecosystem service]]s.<ref>{{Cite journal |display-authors=1|last1=Hua |first1=Fangyuan |last2=Bruijnzeel |first2=L. Adrian |last3=Meli |first3=Paula |last4=Martin |first4=Philip A. |last5=Zhang |first5=Jun |last6=Nakagawa |first6=Shinichi |last7=Miao |first7=Xinran |last8=Wang |first8=Weiyi |last9=McEvoy |first9=Christopher |last10=Peña-Arancibia |first10=Jorge Luis |last11=Brancalion |first11=Pedro H. S. |last12=Smith |first12=Pete |last13=Edwards |first13=David P. |last14=Balmford |first14=Andrew |date=20 May 2022 |title=The biodiversity and ecosystem service contributions and trade-offs of forest restoration approaches |journal=Science |volume=376 |issue=6595 |pages=839–844 |bibcode=2022Sci...376..839H |doi=10.1126/science.abl4649 |issn=0036-8075 |pmid=35298279 |s2cid=247521598 |bibcode-access=free |doi-access=free |hdl-access=free |s2cid-access=free |hdl=10810/62203}}</ref>

Most of the carbon credits on the voluntary market today do not meet UN, UNFCCC, ISO or SBTi standards for permanent carbon dioxide removals.<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":42" /><ref name=":52" /><ref name=":12" /> As a result, significant investment in carbon capture and permanent geological storage will most likely be necessary to achieve net-zero targets by mid-century.<ref name=":52" />

== Implementation == Since 2015, there has been significant growth in the number of actors pledging net-zero emissions. Many standards have emerged that interpret the net zero concept and aim to measure progress towards net zero targets.<ref name=":32" />{{Rp|page=38}} Some of these standards are more robust than others. Some people have criticized weak standards for facilitating [[greenwashing]].<ref name=":32" />{{Rp|page=38}} The [[UN]], [[UNFCCC]], [[International Organization for Standardization]] (ISO), and the [[Science Based Targets initiative]] (SBTi) promote more robust standards.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |title=The Net-Zero Standard |url=https://sciencebasedtargets.org/net-zero |access-date=20 June 2023 |website=Science Based Targets |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=ISO/FDIS 14068 |url=https://www.iso.org/standard/43279.html |access-date=29 March 2023 |website=[[ISO]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":32" /><ref name=":42">{{Cite web |title=UNFCCC Race to Zero Campaign |url=https://unfccc.int/climate-action/race-to-zero-campaign |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129182550/https://unfccc.int/climate-action/race-to-zero-campaign |archive-date=2023-11-29 |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=unfccc.int}}</ref>

The "United Nations High-Level Expert Group" on the net-zero emissions commitments of non-state entities has made several recommendations for [[non-state actor]]s. Non-state actors include cities, regional governments, financial institutions, and corporations. One of these is not financing new fossil fuel development. Another is supporting strong climate policy. And another is ensuring that business activities and investments do not contribute to [[deforestation]].<ref name=":32" />{{Rp|page=|pages=12–13}}

65% of the largest 2,000 publicly traded companies by annual revenue<ref name=":0" /> have net zero targets. Among [[Fortune 500]] companies the percentage is 63%.<ref name=":17" /><ref name=":18" /> Company targets can result from both voluntary action and government [[regulation]].

=== Scopes of emissions sources === The [[Carbon accounting|Greenhouse Gas Protocol]] is a group of standards that are the most common in GHG accounting.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GHG Protocol |url=https://climate-pact.europa.eu/resources/climate-policy/ghg-protocol_en |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=climate-pact.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref> These standards reflect a number of accounting principles. They include relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, and accuracy.<ref name=":14">Ranganathan, J.; Corbier, L.; Bhatia, P.; Schmitz, S.; et al. (2004) [https://ghgprotocol.org/sites/default/files/standards/ghg-protocol-revised.pdf GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard] (PDF) (Report). World Resources Institute. Retrieved December 20, 2022.</ref>{{Rp|pages=8–9}} The standards divide emissions into three scopes:

* Scope 1 covers all direct GHG emissions within a corporate boundary (owned or controlled by a company).<ref name=":14" />{{Rp|pages=25}} It includes fuel burned by the company, use of company vehicles, and [[fugitive emission]]s.<ref name=":14" />{{Rp|pages=27}} * Scope 2 covers indirect GHG emissions from consumption of purchased electricity, heat, cooling or steam.<ref name=":14" />{{Rp|pages=27–29}} As of 2010, at least one third of global GHG emissions are Scope 2.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sotos |first=Mary |url=https://ghgprotocol.org/sites/default/files/ghgp/standards/Scope%202%20Guidance_Final_0.pdf |title=GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance |publisher=World Resources Institute |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-56973-850-4 |page=6 |access-date=4 June 2021}}</ref> * Scope 3 emission sources include emissions from suppliers and product users (also known as the "value chain"). Transportation of goods, and other indirect emissions are also part of this scope.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard |url=https://www.ghgprotocol.org/standards/scope-3-standard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131203838/https://ghgprotocol.org/standards/scope-3-standard |archive-date=31 January 2021 |access-date=2016-02-28 |website=Greenhouse Gas Protocol}}</ref> Scope 3 emissions were estimated to represent 75% of all emissions reported to the Carbon Disclosure Project, though that percentage varies widely amongst business sectors.<ref>{{cite report |url=https://cdn.cdp.net/cdp-production/cms/guidance_docs/pdfs/000/003/504/original/CDP-technical-note-scope-3-relevance-by-sector.pdf?1649687608 |title=CDP Technical Note: Relevance of Scope 3 Categories by Sector |publisher=Carbon Disclosure Project |page=6 |access-date=January 20, 2023 |year=2022}}</ref>

Corporate net zero targets vary in how widely they cover emissions related to the company's activities. This can greatly affect the volume of emissions that are counted.<ref name=":13"/> Some oil companies, for instance, claim that their operations (Scopes 1 and 2) produce net-zero emissions.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2022-09-01 |title=Inside Top Oil Exporter Saudi Arabia's Plan to Go Green |url=https://time.com/6210210/saudi-arabia-aramco-climate-oil/ |access-date=2023-08-26 |magazine=Time |language=en}}</ref> These claims do not cover the emissions produced when the oil is burned by its customers, which are 70 - 90% of oil-related emissions. This is because they count as Scope 3 emissions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Emissions targets in the oil and gas sector: How do they stack up? |url=https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/news/emissions-targets-in-the-oil-and-gas-sector-how-do-they-stack-up/ |access-date=2023-08-26 |website=Grantham Research Institute on climate change and the environment |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Robust net zero standards require Scope 3 emissions to be counted,<ref name=":32" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Race to Zero Expert Peer Review Group |url=https://climatechampions.unfccc.int/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/EPRG-interpretation-guide.pdf |title=Interpretation Guide |date=June 2022 |page=4}}</ref><ref name=":52"/><ref name=":12" /> but "carbon neutrality" standards do not.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 January 2020 |title=Carbon neutral verification |url=https://www.carbontrust.com/what-we-do/assurance-and-labelling/carbon-neutral-verification |access-date=20 July 2023 |website=carbontrust.com |language=en}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable ([[WP:NOTRS]]).|date=August 2023}}

===Timeframe=== To achieve net zero, actors are encouraged to set net zero targets for 2050 or earlier.<ref name=":32"/><ref name=":42"/><ref name=":52"/><ref name=":12"/> Long-term net zero targets should be supplemented by interim targets for every one to five years.<ref name=":32"/><ref name=":42"/><ref name=":52"/><ref name=":12"/> The UN, UNFCCC, ISO, and SBTi all say that organizations should prioritize early, front-loaded emissions reduction. They say they should aim to halve emissions by 2030.<ref name=":32"/><ref name=":42"/><ref name=":52"/><ref name=":12"/> Specific emissions reduction targets and pathways may look different for different sectors. Some may be able to decarbonize more quickly and easily than others.<ref name=":32"/><ref name=":42"/><ref name=":52"/><ref name=":12"/>

Many companies often claim a commitment to reach net-zero emissions by the year 2050. These promises are often made at the corporate level. Both governments and international agencies encourage businesses to contribute to a national, or international, net zero pledge. The [[International Energy Agency]] says that global investment in low carbon substitutes for fossil fuels needs to reach US$4 trillion annually by 2030 for the world to get to net zero by 2050.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Net Zero by 2050 – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/net-zero-by-2050 |date=May 2021 |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Net Zero by 2050 |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/2021/09/infographic-series-net-zero-2050-IEA-report |date=September 2021 |first1=Andrew |last1=Stanley |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=IMF |language=en}}</ref>

Some analyses have raised concerns that net zero cannot be achieved worldwide by 2050.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Halfway Between Kyoto and 2050: Zero Carbon Is a Highly Unlikely Outcome |first1=Vaclav |last1=Smil |url=https://privatebank.jpmorgan.com/content/dam/jpm-wm-aem/global/pb/en/insights/eye-on-the-market/Vaclav.pdf |language=en}}</ref>

On average, approximately 29% of companies in EU member states have formulated a respective target to achieve net zero or have already reached this goal. However, these numbers can vary significantly across different industries, countries, and firm sizes.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite journal |last1=Unger |first1=Benedikt |last2=Nippa |first2=Michael |date=2024-01-26 |title=Determinants of firms' initiative and inertia in pursuing climate neutrality strategies—Theoretical explanations and empirical evidence |journal=Business Strategy and the Environment |volume=33 |issue=5 |pages=4086–4107 |language=en |doi=10.1002/bse.3698 |issn=0964-4733|doi-access=free |bibcode=2024BSEnv..33.4086U }}</ref> External pressures, such as companies' exposure to risks associated with climate change and its perception as a problem, can influence a company's ambition to adopt specific targets and strategies.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

===Comprehensive accounting=== The guidance from standards institutions says that organizations should choose a base year to measure emissions reductions against. This should be representative of their typical greenhouse gas profile.<ref name=":12"/> They should explain the choice of baseline and how they will account for changes in conditions since the baseline.<ref name=":52"/> [[Financial institution|Financial organizations]] should also include emissions within their [[Portfolio (finance)|portfolio]]. This should include all organizations they have financed, invested in, or insured.<ref name=":32"/><ref name=":42"/><ref name=":52"/><ref name=":12"/> Countries and regions should include both territorial emissions released within their boundaries and [[Consumption emissions of greenhouse gases|consumption emissions]] related to products and services imported and consumed within their boundaries.<ref name=":32"/><ref name=":42"/><ref name=":52"/><ref name=":12"/>

Cities and countries pose a challenge when it comes to calculating emissions. This is because the production of products and services within their boundaries might be linked to either internal consumption or exports. At the same time the population also consumes imported products and services. So it is important to state explicitly whether emissions are counted at the location of production or consumption. This helps to prevent double counting. The lengthy manufacturing chains of a globalised market might make this challenging. There are additional challenges with looking at renewable energy systems and electric vehicle batteries. This is because the necessary embodied energy and other effects of raw material extraction are often significant when measuring life-cycle emissions. However the local emissions at the place they are used may be small.<ref>Huovila, A., Siikavirta, H., Antuña Rozado, C., Rökman, J., Tuominen, P., Paiho, S., Hedman, Å., Ylén, P.: "[https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.130912 Carbon-neutral cities: Critical review of theory and practice]". ''Journal of Cleaner Production'', Volume 341, 20 March 2022.</ref>

=== Standards for products === Leading standards and guidance allow official accreditation bodies to certify products as carbon neutral but not as net zero.<ref name=":52" />{{Page needed|date=August 2023}} The rationale behind this is that until organizations and their [[supply chain]]s are on track for net zero, allowing a product to claim to be net zero at this point would be disingenuous and lead to greenwashing.<ref name=":52" />

=== Financial impact === {{Further|Economic analysis of climate change}} The International Monetary Fund estimates that compared to current government policies, shifting policies to bring emissions to net zero by 2050 would result in global [[gross domestic product]] (GDP) being 7 percent higher. In its estimates, the cost of emissions reductions in 2050 is less than 2% of world GDP, and the cost savings from reducing the [[effects of climate change]] are approximately 9% of world GDP.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-05 |title=Benefits of Accelerating the Climate Transition Outweigh the Costs |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2023/12/05/benefits-of-accelerating-the-climate-transition-outweigh-the-costs |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=IMF |language=en}}</ref>

== Politics == {{See also|Climate policy of China#Debates}} In the mid-2020s net zero became more politically divisive in some places, such as the USA,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-02-06 |title=US Energy Secretary derides net-zero policies in new order |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-energy-secretary-derides-net-zero-policies-new-order-2025-02-06/ |access-date=2025-06-27 |work=Reuters |language=en}}</ref> EU<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Abnett |first1=Kate |date=2024-06-10 |title=EU climate policies could be slowed in future after rightward shift in election |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/uphill-road-europes-climate-plan-after-eu-election-2024-06-10/ |access-date=2025-06-27 |work=Reuters |language=en}}</ref> and UK.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Audio {{!}} Strong Message Here {{!}} The New Brexit |url=https://www.bbc.com/audio/play/m002dzy6 |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-02 |title=How the political consensus on climate change has shattered |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx20znjejw1o |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> As part of the [[politics of climate change]] it has been argued that "policymakers need to engage in complex confrontational politics if we want to secure the transition to net zero"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-10 |title=Policymakers must address the politics of climate crisis {{!}} Joseph Rowntree Foundation |url=https://www.jrf.org.uk/climate-change/policymakers-must-address-the-politics-of-climate-crisis |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=www.jrf.org.uk |language=en}}</ref> and that "the path to net zero must be shaped politically".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Much chatter, little impact: Net zero reference slipped into German constitution |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/eet/news/germany-climate-law-legislation/}}</ref> Some politicians, like [[Chris Wright]], have described net zero targets as harmful or too expensive.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=James |first1=William |last2=Lawler |first2=Alex |last3=James |first3=William |date=2025-02-17 |title=US Energy Secretary attacks 'sinister' net zero goals, singling out Britain |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us-energy-secretary-attacks-sinister-net-zero-goals-singling-out-britain-2025-02-17/ |access-date=2025-06-27 |work=Reuters |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":20">{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Chaitanya |title=The cost of Reform UK's anti-environmental policies |url=https://neweconomics.org/2025/05/the-cost-of-reform-uks-anti-environmental-policies |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=New Economics Foundation |language=en}}</ref> Some media says net zero will increase prices.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Pinkstone | first1=Joe | title=Net zero tax to push up price of wine | work=The Telegraph | date=26 June 2025 | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/06/26/net-zero-tax-to-push-up-price-of-wine/ }}</ref> However it has been argued that they are misrepresenting the [[economics of climate change]] and that net zero is cheaper than '''not zero'''.<ref name=":20" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-05 |title=Cost of NOT zero in 2023 |url=https://eciu.net/analysis/reports/2024/cost-of-not-zero-in-2023 |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit |language=en}}</ref>

There are also implications for the workforce that will have political implications, with some industries and regions more at risk than others.<ref name=":21">{{Cite web |last=Trappmann |first=V. |last2=Cutter |first2=J. |last3=Garvey |first3=A. |date=2025-06-30 |title=What workers want: Conditions for a fair and just transition in the UK |url=https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/228540/ |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=eprints.whiterose.ac.uk |language=en |doi=10.48785/100/347}}</ref> In the UK for example, London and the South East have more jobs in the service sector that are likely to be less affected compared to heavy industry concentrated in the Midlands and the North.<ref name=":21" />

It is argued that [[Climate change in India#Mitigation|net zero in India]] "will largely depend upon the synergy between national and state government policies and actions across various economic and social sectors."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Political Economy of Net Zero: India |url=https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Systemic-Net-Zero-Transitions-in-India.pdf}}</ref>

Some cattle [[Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture|farmers]] are lobbying for GWP*, which has been described as "dangerous".<ref>{{cite web | title=Cattle industry walks away from net-zero target by 2030 pledge | work=ABC News | date=27 June 2025 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2025-06-27/cattle-industry-abandons-net-zero-target-by-2030/105467802 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=Policy Brief | url=https://foodrise.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Feedback-2024-GWPStar-Policy-Briefing-2.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250711115835/https://foodrise.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Feedback-2024-GWPStar-Policy-Briefing-2.pdf | archive-date=2025-07-11 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=Scientists accuse New Zealand and Ireland of trying to cover up livestock emissions | url=https://www.ft.com/content/2ea6a69d-765e-48d5-b2f2-50dce8427862 | url-access=subscription | access-date=2025-07-30 | website=www.ft.com}}</ref>

== Effects == Evidence suggests that high-emission countries pursuing net zero policies enjoy the benefits of an increase in [[public health]], and that the attendant cost benefit more than offsets the costs of policy implementation.<ref>{{cite journal |display-authors =1 | last1=Moutet | first1=Léo | last2=Bernard | first2=Paquito | last3=Green | first3=Rosemary | last4=Milner | first4=James | last5=Haines | first5=Andy | last6=Slama | first6=Rémy | last7=Temime | first7=Laura | last8=Jean | first8=Kévin | title=The public health co-benefits of strategies consistent with net-zero emissions: a systematic review | journal=The Lancet Planetary Health | publisher=Elsevier BV | volume=9 | issue=2 | year=2025 | issn=2542-5196 | doi=10.1016/s2542-5196(24)00330-9 | doi-access=free | pages=e145–e156| pmid=39954682 }}</ref>

== Targets == As of November 2023, around 145 countries had announced or are considering net zero targets, covering close to 90% of global emissions.<ref name=":15" /> They include some countries that were resistant to climate action in previous decades.<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":0" /> Country-level net zero targets now cover 92% of global [[GDP]], 88% of emissions and 89% of the world population.<ref name=":0" />

According to World Population Review, a number of countries have net zero, or net negative carbon emissions: [[Bhutan]], [[Comoros]], [[Gabon]], [[Guyana]], [[Madagascar]], [[Panama]], and [[Suriname]].<ref name=":5">{{cite web |title=Carbon-Negative Countries 2024 |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/carbon-negative-countries |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231226140011/https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/carbon-negative-countries |archive-date=Dec 26, 2023 |access-date=Jan 28, 2024 |website=World Population Review}}</ref> However, according to the World Resources Institute, all of these countries have net positive greenhouse gas emissions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Climate Watch |url=https://www.climatewatchdata.org/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.climatewatchdata.org}}</ref> These countries generally have a high level of forestation.<ref name=":5" />

===By country=== {{See also|List of countries by greenhouse gas emissions}} * [[European Green Deal]] * [[Climate policy of China]] * [[Carbon neutrality in India]] * [[Carbon neutrality in the United States]]

=== Credibility === [[File:Status of net-zero carbon emissions targets map.png|thumb|Status of net-zero carbon emissions targets as of October, 2023. The inclusion criteria for net-zero commitments may vary from country to country.]] The credibility of net-zero targets remains low.<ref name="apnews.com"/> There is no binding regulation requiring a transition to net zero, so the overwhelming majority of net zero commitments have been made on a voluntary basis.<ref name=":16" /> The lack of an enforcement mechanism surrounding these claims means that many are dubious. In many sectors such as steel, cement, and chemicals, the pathway to reaching net zero in terms of technology remains unclear.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 June 2019 |title=Steel, cement, chemicals: How industry heavyweights aim to become climate friendly |url=https://www.cleanenergywire.org/research-tours/apply-now-steel-cement-chemicals-how-industry-heavyweights-aim-become-climate-friendly |access-date=31 July 2023 |website=Clean Energy Wire |language=en}}</ref> Further investment in research and innovation and further regulation will probably be necessary if net zero claims are to become more credible.

[[Tzeporah Berman]], chair of the [[Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative]], has criticized net zero claims by fossil fuel companies, describing them as "delusional and based on bad science".<ref name="Guard2">{{cite news |last1=Berman |first1=Tzeporah |last2=Nathan |first2=Taft |date=3 March 2021 |title=Global oil companies have committed to 'net zero' emissions. It's a sham |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/mar/03/global-oil-companies-have-committed-to-net-zero-emissions-its-a-sham |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210706032850/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/mar/03/global-oil-companies-have-committed-to-net-zero-emissions-its-a-sham |archive-date=6 July 2021 |access-date=10 July 2021 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>

A consortium of climate scientists has tracked net zero commitments. Their research found that net pledges drafted in law or policy documentation have grown from 7% of countries in 2020 to 75% in 2023. However, very few have met the minimum requirements for a "decent pledge". The UN Race to Zero campaign calls them "starting line criteria". This states that they must have a "plan and published evidence of action taken towards reaching the target" besides a stated pledge.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sanderson |first1=Katharine |title=Net-zero pledges are growing — how serious are they? |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01976-0 |access-date=10 November 2023 |publisher=Nature |date=20 June 2023 |quote=The Race to Zero scheme outlines a set of criteria called the 'starting line', which is "the very minimum procedural requirements for a decent pledge", says Lang. The criteria include having a pledge, plan and published evidence of action taken towards reaching the target. Most states, regions or cities that have made pledges have not met the starting line criteria. "We saw no movement whatsoever" in almost every case, says Lang.}}</ref>

At the [[2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference]] (COP27), the High-Level Expert Group on the net-zero emissions commitments of non-state entities of the [[United Nations]] formed the previous March by [[U.N. Secretary-General]] [[António Guterres]] and chaired by former [[Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature|Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change]] [[Catherine McKenna]] released a report that stated that the carbon neutrality pledges of many [[corporation]]s, [[local government]]s, [[Administrative division|regional governments]], and [[financial institution]]s around the world often amount to nothing more than [[greenwashing]] and provided 10 recommendations to ensure greater credibility and accountability for carbon neutrality pledges such as requiring non-state actors to publicly disclose and report verifiable information (e.g. [[Greenhouse gas inventory|greenhouse gas inventories]] and [[carbon footprint]] [[Carbon accounting|accounting]] in [[Prospectus (finance)|prospectus]] for [[financial securities]]) that substantiates compliance with such pledges.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dickie |first1=Gloria |author-link1=Gloria Dickie |last2=Jessop |first2=Simon |date=8 November 2022 |title=COP27 - Corporate climate pledges rife with greenwashing - U.N. expert group |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/cop/un-experts-cop27-corporate-climate-pledges-rife-with-greenwashing-2022-11-08/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510060156/https://www.reuters.com/business/cop/un-experts-cop27-corporate-climate-pledges-rife-with-greenwashing-2022-11-08/ |archive-date=2023-05-10 |access-date=2 December 2022 |website=Reuters |publisher=Thomson Reuters}}</ref><ref name=":22">{{cite news |last1=Morton |first1=Adam |date=8 November 2022 |title=UN experts demand crackdown on greenwashing of net zero pledges |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/08/un-experts-demand-crackdown-on-greenwashing-of-net-zero-pledges-cop27 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228235422/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/08/un-experts-demand-crackdown-on-greenwashing-of-net-zero-pledges-cop27 |archive-date=2023-02-28 |access-date=2 December 2022 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref name=":16">{{cite report |url=https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/high-level_expert_group_n7b.pdf |title=Integrity Matters: Net Zero Commitments by Businesses, Financial Institutions, Cities and Regions |publisher=[[United Nations]] |access-date=2 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317005238/https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/high-level_expert_group_n7b.pdf |archive-date=2023-03-17 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Following the release of the report, Net Zero Tracker, a research consortium that includes the NewClimate Institute, the [[Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit]], the Data-Driven EnviroLab of the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]], and the [[Myles Allen|Net Zero Initiative]] at the [[University of Oxford]] issued a report evaluating the climate neutrality pledges of 116 of 713 regional governments, of 241 of {{val|1177|fmt=commas}} cities with populations greater than {{val|500000|fmt=commas}}, and of {{val|1156|fmt=commas}} of {{val|2000|fmt=commas}} [[Public company|publicly listed companies]] in the [[List of countries by greenhouse gas emissions|25 countries with the greatest emissions]] (whose pledges cover more than 90% of the [[gross world product]]) by the recommendations of the UN report and found that many of these pledges were largely unsubstantiated and more than half of cities had no plan for tracking and reporting compliance with pledges.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dickie |first=Gloria |author-link=Gloria Dickie |date=15 November 2022 |title=COP27: Cities with net zero promises falling short on tracking, report says |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/cop/cop27-cities-with-net-zero-promises-falling-short-tracking-report-says-2022-11-15/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510153741/https://www.reuters.com/business/cop/cop27-cities-with-net-zero-promises-falling-short-tracking-report-says-2022-11-15/ |archive-date=2023-05-10 |access-date=2 December 2022 |website=Reuters |publisher=Thomson Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{cite report |url=https://zerotracker.net/analysis/recommendations-and-current-realities |title=Recommendations and current realities |publisher=NewClimate Institute/Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit/University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill/University of Oxford |access-date=2 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325065918/https://zerotracker.net/analysis/recommendations-and-current-realities |archive-date=2023-03-25 |url-status=live |website=Net Zero Tracker}}</ref>

== Challenges ==

=== Deferring present-day emissions reductions === Climate scientists James Dyke, [[Robert Watson (chemist)|Bob Watson]], and Wolfgang Knorr argue that the concept of net zero has been harmful for emissions reductions. This is because it allows actors to defer present-day emissions reductions by relying on future, unproved technological fixes such as [[carbon dioxide removal]]. "The problems come when it is assumed that these [technological fixes] can be deployed at vast scale. This effectively serves as a blank cheque for the continued burning of fossil fuels and the acceleration of [[habitat destruction]]", they said. By tracing the history of previous failures in [[Politics of climate change|climate policy]] at reducing emissions from 1988 to 2021, they said they "[arrive] at the painful realisation that the idea of net zero has licensed a recklessly cavalier 'burn now, pay later' approach which has seen carbon emissions continue to soar". They concluded: "Current net zero policies will not keep warming to within 1.5&nbsp;°C because they were never intended to. They were and still are driven by a need to protect business as usual, not the climate. If we want to keep people safe then large and sustained cuts to carbon emissions need to happen now. [...] The time for wishful thinking is over."<ref name="Conversation1">{{cite web |last1=Dyke |first1=James |last2=Watson |first2=Robert |last3=Wolfgang |first3=Knorr |date=22 April 2021 |title=Climate scientists: concept of net zero is a dangerous trap |url=https://theconversation.com/climate-scientists-concept-of-net-zero-is-a-dangerous-trap-157368 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102061949/https://theconversation.com/climate-scientists-concept-of-net-zero-is-a-dangerous-trap-157368 |archive-date=2 November 2021 |access-date=2 November 2021 |website=The Conversation }}</ref>

=== Carbon credits === {{See also|Carbon offsets and credits#Limitations and drawbacks}}

One of the main reasons for the low credibility of many net zero claims is their heavy reliance on [[carbon credits]]. Carbon credits are often used for offsetting. They reduce or remove emissions of carbon dioxide or other [[greenhouse gas]]es in order to compensate for emissions made elsewhere.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Collins English Dictionary |title=Carbon offset definition |url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/carbon-offset}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Goodward |first1=Jenna |last2=Kelly |first2=Alexia |date=1 August 2010 |title=Bottom Line on Offsets |url=https://www.wri.org/research/bottom-line-offsets |language=en |website=[[World Resources Institute]]}}</ref> Many fossil fuel companies have made commitments to be net zero by 2050.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 December 2020 |title=Which major oil companies have set net-zero emissions targets? |url=https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/features/oil-companies-net-zero/ |access-date=31 July 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref> At the same time they continue to increase greenhouse gas emissions by extracting and producing fossil fuels.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ferris |first=Nick |date=26 January 2023 |title=Exclusive: How just 25 oil companies are set to blow the world's 1.5&nbsp;°C carbon budget |url=https://www.energymonitor.ai/sectors/industry/exclusive-how-just-25-oil-companies-are-set-to-blow-the-worlds-1-5c-carbon-budget/ |access-date=31 July 2023 |website=Energy Monitor |language=en-US}}</ref> They claim that they will use carbon credits and carbon capture technology in order to continue extracting and burning fossil fuels. The UN has condemned such pledges as dangerous examples of [[greenwashing]].<ref name=":22" />

Offset projects themselves could have harmful effects.{{Clarification needed|reason=Please explain what types of harmful effects are caused and who they tend to dispropportionately impact|date=April 2025}} The ISO Net Zero Guidelines say that net zero strategies should align with the [[United Nations Sustainable Development Goals]]. This is in order to "support equity and global transition to a net-zero economy, and any subsequent UN global goals which supersede the 2030 SDGs."<ref name=":52" /> The UNFCCC's Race to Zero campaign says emissions reductions and removals should "safeguard the rights of the most vulnerable people and communities". It says that organizations should disclose how they will support communities affected by climate impacts and climate transition.<ref name=":42" />

== See also == {{Portal|Climate change}}

* {{Annotated link |Carbon budget}} * {{Annotated link |Carbon footprint}} * {{Annotated link |Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance}} * {{Annotated link |Carbon Neutrality Coalition}} * {{Annotated link |Low-carbon economy}} * {{Annotated link |Nationally determined contribution}} * {{Annotated link |Renewable natural gas}} == External links ==

* [https://zerotracker.net/ Net Zero Tracker] – data on targets for countries, regions, major cities and large companies

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{climate change}} {{Authority control}}

[[Category:Climate change and society]] [[Category:Greenhouse gas emissions]] [[Category:Climate change mitigation]]