What is carbon neutrality?

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Carbon neutrality is a concept that refers to the fact that carbon dioxide emissions caused by an activity, product or organization are in balance with removed or compensated emissions. This means that the net emissions are zero. Carbon neutrality is a key goal in the fight against climate change, as it aims to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and thus slow down global warming.

How is carbon neutrality achieved?

To achieve carbon neutrality, there are several strategies and measures that can be implemented at different levels, such as individual, company and state level. Here are some key ways:

  • Reducing energy consumption: Improving energy efficiency and energy saving measures can significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
  • Use of renewable energy: Switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydropower reduces emissions.
  • Carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS): Technologies that capture and store carbon dioxide can help reduce emissions from industrial processes.
  • Increasing carbon sinks: The protection and restoration of forests and other ecosystems can bind carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
  • Carbon compensation: Compensation of emissions by investing in projects that reduce or bind carbon dioxide, such as afforestation projects or renewable energy projects.

The importance of carbon neutrality

Carbon neutrality is an important goal because it helps curb the effects of climate change. Global warming causes many harmful consequences, such as:

  1. Extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and hurricanes.
  2. Sea level rise, which threatens coastal areas and island nations.
  3. Disappearance of ecosystems and species.
  4. Decreasing food security and scarcity of water resources.
  5. Health problems, such as increased respiratory diseases and heat waves.

Achieving carbon neutrality is therefore a key part of sustainable development and achieving global climate goals. Many countries, cities and companies have committed to carbon neutrality goals as part of the Paris climate agreement, which aims to limit global warming to less than 2 degrees, preferably 1.5 degrees, from pre-industrial times.

Additional information on carbon neutrality and related measures can be found, for example, from the following sources:

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