net zero

For some time now we have all been adding and subtracting, adding the carbon emissions into the atmosphere that are generated by a particular activity, like flying in aeroplanes, or a particular sector of the economy, like agriculture, or a particular habit, like wrapping food in plastic.  Then we do the other sum, the subtraction of all the carbon dioxide we have taken out of the atmosphere by curtailing these habits and activities, by technologies designed to remove carbon, by the replacement of old carbon power sources with renewable energy.

And we see what we get.

 The goal is net zero, short for net zero carbon emissions, which we hope to reach by 2050.  That means that what we emit is cancelled out by what we take away and the bottom line is zero.

 This is considered to be more realistically attainable than a gross zero in which the carbon emissions would be nil, because it is probable that there would still be some carbon emissions happening.  As long as we can cancel them out, it will be ok.