How did Net Zero come about?

As a result of extreme weather we’ve faced across the world in recent years, from UK flooding to Australian bush fires, there’s little argument against the fact we’re in a climate emergency. With scientific evidence showing that greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions, generated from human activity has contributed heavily to our climate changing. ²

In order to battle this problem, June 2019 saw the UK become the first major economy to pledge to net zero emissions by 2050. In other words, a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 100%. ²

Why Net Zero by 2050?

The year 2050 was seen as the first realistic date to achieve net zero emissions, taking into account the impact on the economy as well as the urgent need to take action.

If other countries follow in the UK’s footsteps to reach net zero by 2050, there would be a 50% chance of escaping a ‘catastrophic’ 1.5^oC temperature rise by 2100, according to the Committee on Climate Change. ²

Why are some organisations targeting Net Zero by 2030?

The longer you wait to reach net zero, the more emissions are released into the atmosphere, and the more the climate will change.

Higher levels of GHGs in the atmosphere will require extreme action to reach net zero targets and keep global warming below a 1.5/2°C increase from pre-industrial temperatures (the 2015 Paris Agreement goal).

This is why reducing emissions sooner (like 2030) rather than later is preferable: so that we can reach net zero in the least damaging pathway possible.