Net Zero Emission

Abstract

Net zero emission is a concept which is similar in theory to that of climate neutrality. The concept was borne out of the need to avert the worst climate impact. It refers to the system of reaching a net zero emission of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by removing all man-made greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere through reduction measures (natural and artificial sink), making-up for emission with removal of carbon from the atmosphere (carbon-offsetting) or by simply not emitting to reach net zero. This is possible where public and private concerns as well as individuals act to remove as much CO2 as they put into the atmosphere. The goal here is to reach overall carbon neutrality which leads to a zero-carbon footprint (IPCC 2018; Oshiro et al. 2018). For example, an industrial entity may embark on an afforestation program and funding other projects for an equivalent amount of carbon saving in a different location in the world to compensate for its greenhouse gases emission. There are also a growing number of energy efficient buildings that generate their energy needs on and/or off-site from renewable sources. Net zero emission hypothetically describes a solution where the amount of CO2 and other GHGs emitted into the atmosphere is equal to the amount removed (IPCC 2018).
CO2emitted=CO2removed
Net zero emission is also sometimes used interchangeably with carbon neutrality and net zero carbon footprint which both refer to achieving net zero emissions by balancing carbon emissions including other greenhouse gases (GHGs) measured in terms of their carbon dioxide equivalence. The term “zero emission” is the root phrase from which “net zero emission” is derived. Even though the two terms are ultimately geared toward addressing the goal of balancing the global climate, they are conceptually different (Hope and Kuhn 2018). Zero emission was first conceptualized in 1991 by Gunter Pauli when he found that the growing demand for the derivatives and by-products of palm oil has aggravated the destruction of the rainforest in the South-East Asia. Overall, net zero emission refers to technologies, processes, and other energy generating facilities which do not emit greenhouse gases or other waste that can deteriorate the quality of the environment. Thus, common zero emission technologies include zero emission mobility such as bicycles, electric cars, hydrogen cars, and electric trains. There is also zero emission power generation such as hydroelectricity, solar power, wind power, and nuclear power. In order to reach the global warming target in the Paris Agreement, global emissions should reach net zero around mid-century (Friends of the Earth 2018).

Full text

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Net Zero Emission
Saheed Matemilola
1
and
Hammed Adeniyi Salami
2
1
Department of Public Law with Reference to the
Law of Environment and Planning, Brandenburg
University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg,
Cottbus, Germany
2
Department of Agricultural and Environmental
Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo
state, Nigeria
Synonyms
Carbon neutrality;Climate neutrality;Decarbo-
nization;Net zero carbon footprint;Net zero
greenhouse gas (GHG) emission
Definition
Net zero emission is a concept which is similar in
theory to that of climate neutrality. The concept
was borne out of the need to avert the worst
climate impact. It refers to the system of reaching
a net zero emission of carbon dioxide (CO
2
),
methane, and other greenhouse gases in the atmo-
sphere by removing all man-made greenhouse gas
emissions from the atmosphere through reduction
measures (natural and artificial sink), making-up
for emission with removal of carbon from the
atmosphere (carbon-offsetting) or by simply not
emitting to reach net zero. This is possible where
public and private concerns as well as individuals
act to remove as much CO
2
as they put into the
atmosphere. The goal here is to reach overall
carbon neutrality which leads to a zero-carbon
footprint (IPCC 2018; Oshiro et al. 2018). For
example, an industrial entity may embark on an
afforestation program and funding other projects
for an equivalent amount of carbon saving in a
different location in the world to compensate for
its greenhouse gases emission. There are also a
growing number of energy efficient buildings that
generate their energy needs on and/or off-site
from renewable sources. Net zero emission hypo-
thetically describes a solution where the amount
of CO
2
and other GHGs emitted into the atmo-
sphere is equal to the amount removed (IPCC
2018).
CO2emitted ¼CO2removed
Net zero emission is also sometimes used inter-
changeably with carbon neutrality and net zero
carbon footprint which both refer to achieving
net zero emissions by balancing carbon emissions
including other greenhouse gases (GHGs) mea-
sured in terms of their carbon dioxide equiva-
lence. The term “zero emission”is the root
phrase from which “net zero emission”is derived.
Even though the two terms are ultimately geared
toward addressing the goal of balancing the global
climate, they are conceptually different (Hope and
Kuhn 2018). Zero emission was first
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
S. O. Idowu et al. (eds.), Encyclopedia of Sustainable Management,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02006-4_512-1

conceptualized in 1991 by Gunter Pauli when he
found that the growing demand for the derivatives
and by-products of palm oil has aggravated the
destruction of the rainforest in the South-East
Asia. Overall, net zero emission refers to technol-
ogies, processes, and other energy generating
facilities which do not emit greenhouse gases or
other waste that can deteriorate the quality of the
environment. Thus, common zero emission tech-
nologies include zero emission mobility such as
bicycles, electric cars, hydrogen cars, and electric
trains. There is also zero emission power genera-
tion such as hydroelectricity, solar power, wind
power, and nuclear power. In order to reach the
global warming target in the Paris Agreement,
global emissions should reach net zero around
mid-century (Friends of the Earth 2018).
Introduction
The use of energy has been a major driver of
economic and social development. This has
enabled the human race to lead some form of
comfortable and enjoyable life. The growth in
technological development is a result of the abun-
dance and use of fossil fuels; that indeed fostered
the era of industrial revolution. Nonetheless, the
widespread consumption of fossil fuels has led to
the release of excess greenhouses gases (GHGs)
and other toxic elements into the environment
(Eyre and Killip 2019). These GHGs are capable
of trapping more heat in the atmosphere with a
consequential negative impact on the climate,
such as global temperature rise. This occurrence
is known as climate change. The higher the pro-
duction of GHGs, the higher the degree of earth
warming, increasing the incidence of such adverse
impacts as bushfires, storms, heatwaves, flood,
etc. Cumulative emission of anthropogenic CO
2
has been identified as the major contributor to
postindustrial anthropogenic temperature increase
(Friends of the Earth 2018).
Globally, the demand for energy is projected to
increase significantly over this century. However,
to stabilize the global mean temperature, the net
emissions of carbon dioxide (CO
2
) from human
activities –including not only energy and
industrial production, but also land use and agri-
culture –must approach zero (Abraham 2019).
The necessity to limit the emission of CO
2
and
other GHGs has become more pressing than ever
as reliance on fossil fuels to meet the growing
global demand for energy continues. While the
energy demand in industrialized countries will
remain high to sustain their development, demand
is growing fast in countries in transition due to
their growing population and an increasing stan-
dard of living (Glynn et al. 2019; Abraham 2019).
It is imperative to address associated ecological
and climate issues. In its report of 2018, the IPCC
has shown that the net global carbon emission
must be reduced to zero to reverse the trend in
warming of the earth. The report stressed that any
scenario that does not entail the global reduction
of emission to zero is not capable of addressing
the challenge of a changing climate. Figure 1
depicts the sectoral distribution of CO
2
emission
on a global scale. It has been projected that the
increase of global average temperature beyond
2C from preindustrial level will cause tropical
regions like West Africa, South-East Asia, Central
and northern South America to face substantial
decrease in local yields, particularly for wheat and
maize. A mean temperature of 2 C would also
cause sea level rise by 10 cm, relative to 1.5 C
and a 30% higher rate of increase by 2100
(Roberts 2018; Davis et al. 2018).
In an agreement reached by 196 countries in
Paris, a target was set to hold the global average
temperature increase well below 2 C above pre-
industrial levels and also to strive to limit the
temperature increase to 1.5 C above preindustrial
levels. Meeting the Paris Agreement goals will
require reaching net-zero CO
2
emissions globally
by 2050 through the provision of policies to
address climate change and high carbon develop-
ment (Eyre and Killip 2019).
Achieving Net Zero Emission
Reaching net zero emission by 2050 requires
actions in adopting low carbon emission pathways
that enhance the widespread deployment of clean
energy sources to replace fossil fuels, as well as
2 Net Zero Emission

the reduction of total energy demand through
higher energy efficiency and changes in consumer
behavior. Massive production of carbon-neutral
and energy-dense liquid fuels may be critical
towards the provision of energy that is needed to
drive the stationary and transportation energy pro-
duction sectors, such fuels include hydrogen and
ammonia, biofuels, synthetic hydrocarbons, and
direct solar fuels (Glynn et al. 2019).
To achieve the goal of net zero emission, there
has to be a shift in policy orientation at all levels,
technological development must be tailored to
international climate goals, and corporate and
individual behavior has to change to protect the
environment (Levin and Davis 2019). However,
net zero emission can be achieved mainly in three
ways:
(I) Emission offsetting: this refers to the reduc-
tion or avoidance of emission of CO
2
or
other GHGs in one sector to compensate
for emission made somewhere else. This
can be achieved by investment in energy
efficiency, renewable energy or other low-
emission technology. The emission trading
system (ETS) of the European Union is a
good example of emission offsetting system.
Emission offsets are measured in tons of
carbon dioxide equivalent (CO
2
e). Emission
offsetting operates in two markets levels. In
the higher compliance market, governments,
companies, and other entities can purchase
emission offsets to enable them to comply
with their emission limits. In the lower vol-
untary compliance market, governments,
companies, and individuals can buy emis-
sion offsets to compensate for their emission
from transportation, electricity, and other
emission contributions (Revkin 2007).
(II) Carbon removal/sequestration: this refers to
the removal and long-term storage of atmo-
spheric CO
2
to mitigate the effect of global
warming. Carbon sequestration occurs both
naturally and through artificial processes
Net Zero Emission, Fig. 1 Global fossil fuels and industrial emissions, 2014. (Source: Davis et al. 2018)
Net Zero Emission 3

(Selin 2020). CO
2
is removed from the
atmosphere naturally through biological,
chemical, and physical processes and stored
primarily in green plants and trees, in soils as
organic debris, in geologic formations that
are inactive for indefinite period, and the
oceans. This is the process with which
nature has achieved balance in atmospheric
CO
2
in a way that optimally supports life.
However, several artificial processes have
been developed to achieve similar purpose
such as large-scale artificial sequestration of
industrially CO
2
emissions through subsur-
face saline aquifers, reservoirs, or direct air
capture (Sedjo and Sohngen 2012). It has
been projected that through improved land-
use practices, about 600 mega-tons of CO
2
equivalent (MtCO
2
e) per year of GHG can
be captured and removed from the atmo-
sphere, which amounts to about 10% of
1990 emissions (Selin 2020).
(III) Emission reduction: this refers to the mini-
mization of the amount of CO
2
and other
GHGs emissions through adjusting indus-
trial, agricultural, and other processes, for
example, the use of renewable energy
sources (e.g., solar and wind energy) and
energy efficient processes to reduce emis-
sions. Though both fossil fuel and non-fossil
fuel-based energy sources produce emis-
sions, nonfossil fuel-based energy sources
produce significantly low emissions (Sedjo
and Sohngen 2012).
Challenges
The major factors hindering the attainment of net
zero emission include the high capital of the
existing technologies, poor energy efficiencies,
and people’s attitude to the use of energy. To
therefore achieve the full decarbonization of the
environment, there is a need to enhance techno-
logical cost reductions via research and innova-
tion. Other factors, among other, are:
(a) Most carbon neutral fuels have a considerably
lower gravimetric and volumetric energy
densities than the conventional fossil fuels:
this implies that most carbon neutral or syn-
thetic fuels such as hydrogen fuel and biofuels
cannot store as much energy per unit volume
or mass as the conventional fossil fuels. Thus,
while they are likely to be more expensive,
most synthetic fuels produced from renewable
sources have lower energy content than fossil
fuels (Pearson et al. 2012). Therefore, carbon
neutral fuels have limited utilization effi-
ciency and their suitability is dependent on
the energy demands of an infrastructure or a
journey.
(b) Stiff competition between food security and
bioenergy production: though the develop-
ment of bioenergy has received tremendous
acceptance globally in the quest for greener
environment, the rate of bioenergy develop-
ment has also begun to brew concerns for its
nexus with food security. This is because most
of the food crops such as cassava, soybean,
groundnut, and sugarcane among other
energy-rich crop which form the basic food
crops especially in most countries also consti-
tute feedstocks for biofuel production
(Matemilola et al. 2019).
(c) Lack of policies that target long-term systemic
changes in the energy sector: energy con-
sumption across the industrial, transport, res-
idential, and commercial sectors are
responsible for the greater share of global
emissions. Emission of GHG imposes costs
on society; thus, an emission pricing system
could be an important tool in the bid to decar-
bonize the energy sector. However, carbon
pricing policies have so far seemed very dif-
ficult to enact and implement in many devel-
oped and developing countries. Certification
and performance measurement policies are
other essential tools for decarbonization but
implementation in the energy sector have been
torrid (Zogopoulos 2019).
(d) Large scale deforestation and ineffective land
use: deforestation accounts for about 15% of
global carbon emissions, making it a key
driver of climate change. The need to elimi-
nate deforestation can therefore not be over-
emphasized. In their pursuit of carbon
4 Net Zero Emission

neutrality at the Bonn climate summit, 2017,
27 countries including Brazil and Indonesia
committed to increase the use of wood prod-
ucts for energy generation with the plan to
plant new saplings that could reabsorb the
CO
2
emitted by fully grown burned trees
within years to decades. Scholars have how-
ever argued that this effort will create huge
demand for wood and increase deforestation
that could pose unimageable grave threat to
the world’s carbon sink (Neslen 2018).
Summary
To avert a dangerous level of global warming, it
has become inevitable to reverse the global GHG
emission trend and ensure it reaches net zero by
mid-century. Though energy is the primary driver
of economic growth, most of the global emissions
arise from energy use. It is therefore imperative
that the global energy system is decarbonized. In
the light of the growing global emission pattern,
world leaders agreed in Paris, to pursue efforts to
keep the global average temperature increase well
below 2 C above preindustrial levels and to fur-
ther strive to limit the temperature increase to
1.5 C above pre-industrial levels. To reach this
target, governments, corporate organizations, and
individuals have a key role to play. Key approach
to achieve net zero emission include removal of
carbon from the atmosphere via afforestation/
reforestation, enhanced mineral weathering, or
direct capture of CO
2
from the air. Emission trad-
ing as well as emission reduction through energy
efficiency and use of renewable energy sources
represent some of the core approaches.
Cross-References
▶Decarbonization: The Challenges of the Great
Transition
▶Net Zero by 2050: From Whether to How –
Zero Emission Pathway to the Europe We Want
▶Net-Zero Emission Energy Systems
▶Sifting the Focus: Energy Demand in a Net-
Zero Carbon UK
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