In today’s climate-conscious world, more businesses are committing to becoming carbon-neutral, net-zero, or even climate-positive. With industry leaders like Google claiming to have eliminated their carbon legacy, one might wonder: how is this achievable? While terms like “carbon-neutrality,” “net-zero,” and “climate positive” have been in use for some time, they have recently gained traction among both startups and global corporations, often for marketing purposes. The variety of terms and the lack of clear definitions can confuse well-meaning consumers. However, clear communication about these terms can drive businesses to take more substantial actions.
Key Terms Explained:
- Carbon Neutral: This means balancing any CO2 emissions from a company’s activities by removing an equivalent amount from the atmosphere.
- Climate Positive: This goes beyond net-zero by creating an environmental benefit, removing more CO2 from the atmosphere than is emitted.
- Carbon Negative: Synonymous with “climate positive.”
- Carbon Positive: Often used interchangeably with “climate positive” and “carbon negative,” but it’s a marketing term that can be confusing and generally avoided.
- Climate Neutral: This involves reducing all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to zero while also eliminating other negative environmental impacts caused by the organization.
- Net-Zero Carbon Emissions: This means an activity results in no net release of carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
- Net-Zero Emissions: This refers to balancing the total amount of GHG emissions released with the amount removed from the atmosphere.
Understanding these terms is essential for verifying a company’s commitment to reducing or even erasing its carbon footprint.
What is Carbon Neutrality?
Carbon-neutral (or carbon neutrality) means balancing carbon emissions with carbon absorption, often through carbon sinks like forests, soils, and oceans. Natural sinks remove between 9.5 and 11 Gt of CO2 annually, according to the European Union Commission. No artificial sinks can yet match this scale, so companies aiming for carbon neutrality must either reduce emissions drastically or offset them by purchasing carbon credits.
Becoming Carbon Neutral
Many companies now prioritize achieving carbon neutrality. Experts advise applying a carbon accounting framework to initiatives. First, calculate your company’s carbon footprint using carbon accounting software. Then, reduce emissions by targeting the highest sources. Finally, offset remaining emissions, which sends a strong message about your commitment to sustainability.
The Difference Between Carbon Neutral and Net-Zero
While both terms involve reducing and balancing carbon emissions, carbon-neutral focuses on balancing total emissions, whereas net-zero carbon refers to activities that produce no carbon emissions from the start. For example, a building powered entirely by solar energy can claim zero-carbon energy.
Carbon Negative or Climate Positive
Both terms mean removing more CO2 from the atmosphere than is emitted, resulting in a net positive impact on the climate. For instance, a company aiming to launch a climate-positive product must calculate the total carbon footprint of the product, from production to end-of-life, and then take steps to capture more carbon than the product emits.
The Path Forward
As the trend towards carbon neutrality and climate positivity grows, some companies are taking even bolder steps to erase their historical carbon footprints. Microsoft and Google have already made significant strides in this direction.
With the EU aiming to become the first carbon-neutral continent, businesses and individuals must act swiftly to reduce their carbon footprints. Now that you understand these terms, it’s time to take action. Calculate and reduce your company’s carbon footprint using our Sustainability Software. Achieve carbon neutrality by offsetting remaining emissions through our certified partners.
Request a demo and start your journey towards sustainability.