What is the net zero emissions goals?
In 2019, the carbon trust, according to many years in the environmental consulting, experience and professional in the field of carbon emissions measurement,To put forward the definition of "net zero emissions" some discussions and SuggestionsCarbon targets, after the science initiative (SBTi) are also given in their definition of enterprise net zero emissions targets, namely:
Net 'enterprises achieve zero emissions, to two conditions:
- According to the global temperature rise shall not exceed 1.5 ° C or more than the limit emissions over a limited range path, range of emissions from the whole value chain;
- For the remaining emissions reductions in carbon emissions, by permanently remove the same amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to offset the impact.'
SBTi initiative has released the enterprise net zero emissions targets assessment standard draft, and plan to held in November 2021 the 26th before the UN conference on climate change, release the final evaluation criteria and related guidelines.
Financial institutions to set net zero emissions target method is still in development.
Why did your company set net zero emissions targets?
Strict net zero emissions target represents the enterprise to take a strong commitment to climate action, the commitment to conform to the Paris agreement will control the global temperature rise of 1.5 ° C.
In the face of climate of emergency, the enterprise is established which can realize net zero discharge path, has become a measure of its climate a new indicator of ambition.
Companies set net zero emissions targets can bring many benefits.Such as:
- Improve the credibility and brand reputation
- Promote innovation, form a competitive advantage
- Enhanced ability to cope with future regulation of the recovery
- Enhance investor confidence
Your business should be set when a net zero emissions targets?
Net zero emissions trend is not a flash in the pan.It is under the climate of emergency, to realize the economic decarburization this part of a long-term process.
In some industries, still need to innovate to achieve consistent with the global temperature rise of 1.5 ° C emissions path of scientific carbon targets, but this does not prevent companies act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, at the same time actively considering the transformation of business model.
Set to realize net zero emissions target date, is the crucial step for enterprises.However, enterprises realize net zero discharge path is also very important.
Some companies, particularly in the "difficult to decarburization" industry, still need to use to remove greenhouse gases (GGR), to achieve its ambitious net zero emissions targets.At present about appropriate GGR method is still not settled yet, and GGR market both in trading volume, market mechanism and authentication protocols are yet to be further developed.But this does not hinder the enterprise net zero emissions of journey.
What is the difference between net carbon neutral with zero emissions?
Carbon neutral by the internationally recognized standard PAS 2060 definitions.PAS 2060 standard quantitative, reduce and offset greenhouse gas emissions.The standard definition of a carbon neutral "in a specific period of time, caused by emissions of greenhouse gases net growth of global emissions of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere for a state of zero."
Carbon targets carbon neutral and science initiative to organize the formulation of the definition of net zero emissions have more than one key difference:
- Net zero emissions targets of accounting firm covers a worldwide, the scope of emissions and scope, and corporate carbon neutral only coverage and scope 2 emissions, while encouraging business scope includes three emissions, but it is not mandatory.
- The boundary of the carbon neutral can refer to a product or service, and covers the entire enterprise net zero emission requirements.
- Both have different request for report emissions reductions.Net zero emissions targets must be with the global temperature rise of 1.5 ° C the scientific carbon emission situation consistent, but carbon neutral does not specify the strength of the carbon management plan.
- The treatment method of the residual emissions, net zero emissions goals require specific greenhouse gas removal, and carbon neutral allows carbon offsets.
What type of net carbon offsets can be used to implement zero emissions?
Not all carbon offsets are exactly the same.At Oxford University, published in the "net zero emissions at the university of Oxford, apply the principle of carbon offset" lieutenant general carbon offsets are divided into "can avoid the emissions", "reduction" and "remove" greenhouse gases.
- Can avoid the emissions offset may come from solar cooker replaces kerosene stove, etc, because solar cooker can avoid a kerosene stove emissions may be produced.
- Offset emissions reductions could come from industrial production process to avoid deforestation and carbon capture and storage projects, because these projects can prevent the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
- Offset greenhouse gas removal from afforestation and direct air carbon capture and sequestration projects, such as the direct directly to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Carbon capture and storage can be further subdivided into long-term carbon sequestration (such as direct air carbon capture and sequestration) and short-term carbon sequestration (such as afforestation, etc.).
In the short term, there are many solutions for enterprises to choose.Oxford principle for carbon offset companies can adopt the method of step by step, first of all in this year with easy offsets (e.g., can avoid the emissions) carbon offsets, and remove the proportion of offset, gradually increase the greenhouse gases to the target in offset greenhouse gas removal ratio reached 100%.
SBTi initiative focuses on commitment to the enterprise implementation of the ultimate goal of related to the amount of greenhouse gas removal and the medium-term goal put forward the request, but it also suggested that the enterprises in the short term use other carbon offsets, in order to make up for the inadequacy of amount of greenhouse gas removal.
Enterprises in the process of making a net zero emissions, in addition to carbon offsets, should also be emissions path according to the global temperature rise of 1.5 ° C, a decision range, range 2 and 3 emissions of decarburization priorities.
Net zero emissions targets and what is the difference between science and carbon targets?
Science carbon goal setting range, range 2 and 3 emissions paths, and do not allow companies to use offset carbon emissions.
Net zero emissions targets should be accompanied by according to the global temperature rise of 1.5 ° C path set scientific carbon goals to reduce emissions, but at the same time, additional increased use of the contents of the removed to offset the remaining emissions of greenhouse gases.Greenhouse gas removal methods can keep clear of the rest of the emissions from the atmosphere, and permanent storage.
It is worth noting that remove greenhouse gases market is not mature, it is recommended that enterprises carry out upfront investment, to ensure that the net zero emissions targets for more reliable offset greenhouse gas removal, cultivate the ability to remove greenhouse gases market at the same time.
What are the internal stakeholders must be involved in the setting and the process of making a net zero emissions targets?
Enterprise should be technical implementation and the future of energy prices and the enterprise may adopt such problems as the price of greenhouse gas removal, solicit opinions of the management department and finance department.
We also recommend enterprises to propaganda department how best to domestic and foreign propaganda of its net zero emissions targets set, and the progress made in the process of achieve the goal.
We suggest that the enterprise communication with stakeholders as soon as possible, to ensure that the stakeholders and clear identification of the definition of enterprise net zero emissions targets, it is important to recognize enterprise goals.
How to maximize net zero emissions publicity?
Released in SBTi initiative net zero emissions targets assessment standard draft, puts forward requirements on how to promote the net zero emissions targets, including:
- Companies should disclose the net zero emissions targets, disclose the benchmark, accounting boundary and the target.Published should also include the content of the cuts and the importance of carbon neutral.
- Enterprises should disclose in the target year making a net amount of carbon removed zero emissions.
- Enterprises should publish your goal progress year by year, including the following contents:
- Greenhouse gas emissions, list the amount of emissions and carbon removal in detail, according to the scope, range 2 and 3 provide detailed data
- Used to achieve carbon to remove all the contract documents supporting documents
- Related to all purchased and issued the certificate of project information and the use of carbon removal method
- Carbon sequestration of specific responsibilities and temporary risk
In the enterprise information related to the target, posted on the website to provide support for the media to release.We recommend: make sure the propaganda department, timely understanding of the relevant information to understand the emission reduction work of the enterprise, to reduce the risk of any brand or floating green issues.
Companies set net zero emissions targets what will you do first?
The first step is to calculate the range of enterprise, range 2 and 3 emissions, in view of the enterprise's business value chain and set in the science of the global temperature rise of 1.5 ° C emissions path carbon targets.
Then, the enterprise can consider to set more ambitious goal, invite internal stakeholders involved, in a net zero emissions targets and carbon neutral goals determine an optimal solution of the two.
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