carbon neutral or carbon neutrality is a concept that denotes the condition of balance between carbon emissions for the atmosphere and the compensation measures used to absorb carbon dioxide or at least prevent new emissions. In addition to reducing CO emissions2, mainly carbon neutral aims to global warming slowdown and the impacts of climate change on planet Earth.
Read too: What are the main environmental problems faced in Brazil and in the world?
Topics of this article
- 1 - Summary on neutral carbon
- 2 - What is carbon neutral?
- 3 - What are the objectives of neutral carbon?
- 4 - How does carbon neutral work?
- 5 - Main carbon neutralization techniques
- 6 - How to calculate neutral carbon?
- 7 - Importance of neutral carbon
- 8 - Carbon neutral in Brazil
- 9 - Origin of neutral carbon
- 10 - Differences between carbon neutral and net zero
Carbon neutral summary
Carbon neutral or carbon neutrality is the balance condition between carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) and the compensation measures that absorb this gas from the atmosphere.
The objective of carbon neutrality is to reduce pollutants in the atmosphere to slow down the greenhouse effect and contain global warming.
The acquisition of carbon credits, changes in the energy matrix and the adoption of more sustainable practices, in economic production and in individual life, are some compensation measures to reach the neutrality of carbon.
The calculation of neutral carbon can be done by establishing the carbon footprint of the establishment, residence or agent interested in neutralizing its emissions.
Brazil's goal is to neutralize carbon by the year 2050.
What is carbon neutral?
Neutral carbon, or carbon neutrality, is the equilibrium condition reached between the emissions of polluting gases in the atmosphere, more specifically carbon dioxide (CO2), and the adoption of compensation measures aimed at absorbing or removing this gas from the atmosphere, such as reforestation of degraded areas, for example. carbon neutrality is a measure that has been adopted by governments and productive sector with the objective of guaranteeing sustainability and, also, the balance between economic activities and the preservation of the environment.
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What are the carbon neutral goals?
The adoption of practices focused on carbon neutrality aims to main objectivereduce The gas emission atmospheric pollutants. In this way it would be possible mitigate the greenhouse effect and slow down the general increase in temperatures on planet Earth, a process known as global warming, reducing climate change that are ongoing.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a study finding that global temperatures planet have increased by 1.1°C over pre-industrial times, having varied by approximately 0.2°C per decade since then. So that this increase does not exceed 1.5 °C, the maximum value that the IPCC considers to be safe, the panel reinforces that it is necessary to achieve carbon neutrality by the middle of this century, that is, until the 2050s.
See too: Greta Thunberg — the young activist who is a symbol of the fight for the climate issue
How does carbon neutral work?
Carbon neutral works by adoption of mechanisms of compensation for emissions carbon dioxide. In general terms, the volumes of pollutants released into the atmosphere must be equated with the volume of carbon reabsorbed by the natural elements responsible for this function. This reabsorption process is better known as carbon sequestration. The balance between emissions and carbon sequestration would therefore result in a zero or neutral balance.
The neutralization begins through calculation of the total pollutants emitted by economic agents, companies, governments and even people, which is important to be aware of the carbon footprint produced by each of these entities or individuals and, mainly, for the adequate choice of the neutralization technique to be used adopted.
Main carbon neutralization techniques
carbon credits: the acquisition of carbon credits by companies or governments is one of the main techniques for carbon neutralization. Implemented with the Kyoto Protocol (1997), each carbon credit is equivalent to one ton of CO2which ceased to be released into the atmosphere in the period of one year. These credits can be traded directly between the agents involved (those who want to compensate emissions and those who hold credits for absorbing carbon) or even through the carbon market. The certificate is issued by the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). To learn more about this topic, click here.
Adoption of sustainable practices: the adoption of sustainable practices in the production process of the economic sector, which involves the incorporation of non-polluting technologies and the adoption of less aggressive production methods environment, and also by individuals (such as conscious consumption, less waste, recycling and correct disposal of garbage) and governments is one of the ways to offset emissions of carbon. Without these changes, it is not possible to identify a real impact in the medium and long term, as estimated by the IPCC. To learn more about this topic, click here.
Clean energy: changes in the energy and electrical matrices of the territories and/or the adoption of energy generated from renewable sources, such as solar energy, wind, water and biomass, is another technique that can be used to offset carbon emissions by different agents in society civil. To learn more about this topic, click here.
How to calculate carbon neutral?
The calculation of neutral carbon is done from the determination of the carbon footprint of an industry, a product, a private residence and any other agent that wants or needs to neutralize its emissions. The carbon footprint is nothing more than the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere within a period determined by an agent, object or establishment.
There are digital carbon calculators (on websites and apps) and qualified professionals who can measure the carbon footprint from dthe following elements, which vary according to the issuer:
total number of individuals in a household and their consumption habits;
means of transport used and time spent on journeys;
amount of waste and garbage produced daily;
type and quantity of inputs and raw materials used in agricultural or industrial production;
types of energy sources used.
Based on these and other elements, the amount of carbon emitted that needs to be offset or neutralized is calculated.
Importance of carbon neutral
The IPCC has made constant warnings about the accelerated increase in temperatures on planet Earth and the harmful impacts of climate change on living beings and on resources. of nature, which have already begun to become evident with the recurrence of extreme phenomena such as large-scale floods, severe droughts and extreme cold or heat in periods not conventional.
In this scenario, carbon neutrality is important to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and greater capture of carbon emitted into the atmosphere, which helps to slow down global warming in the medium and long term. The adoption of practices aimed at carbon neutrality are important, therefore, for the regulation of the global climate and for the maintenance of biodiversity terrestrial, keeping systems in balance to support the most diverse forms of life on the planet.
Carbon neutral in Brazil
Carbon offsetting is a target set by Brazil during COP26, the United Nations Climate Conference that took place in the city of Glasgow, capital of Scotland, in the year 2021. The proposal, which was transformed into law that same year, is to neutralizing carbon emissions by the year 2050, the same period indicated by the IPCC as the limit for the neutral carbon to be established globally before the installation of an irreversible climate framework.
This neutralization would be the last stage of a gradual process of reduction of emissions that has as target the reduction of 37% until the year 2025 and 43% until 2030|1|. In order to achieve carbon neutrality, the Ministry of the Environment foresees the implementation of measures and goals|2| to be accomplished in the medium and long term, such as:
end of illegal deforestation;
reforestation of degraded areas, including recovery of pasture areas;
increased participation of renewable sources in the Brazilian energy matrix;
expansion of the Brazilian railway network.
In Brazil, there are several institutes and companies that issue carbon neutral certificates. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of productive establishments seeking this certification in the country. The cases of the first carbon neutral coffee farm in the country, in Três Pontas (state of Minas Gerais), and a Senac school restaurant stand out. (Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Comercial), in Salvador (state of Bahia), which was the first Brazilian restaurant to obtain the carbon seal neutral.
In the year 2023,a new compensation measure was implemented in Brazil in order to bring the country closer to the goal of carbon neutrality. This is the Reverse Logistics Recycling Credit Certificate (CCRLR), which includes waste picker organizations and individual pickers. Each recycling credit is equivalent to one ton of carbon not emitted into the atmosphere.|3|
Know more: Deforestation in the Amazon—A Problem That Compounds Global Warming
Origin of carbon neutral
The idea of offsetting carbon emissions to achieve a neutral state originated with the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, which established emission targets for developed countries and created the Clean Development Mechanism (MDL), which determines the certification of the reduction of carbon emissions in the atmosphere. Then came the Carbon Credit.
The successor to the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement, signed in 2015, extended the commitments to reduce carbon emissions in emerging countries. Prior to that, carbon neutrality was already a concept discussed at climate conferences, and the expression “carbon neutral” came to be appear as word of the year in the Oxford dictionary, in 2006, given the importance of the theme and the relevance it had acquired since then.
Differences between carbon neutral and net zero
The concept of neutral carbon is included in the concept of net zero, an expression in English that means “net zero emissions”. As well as the carbon neutral policy, many companies and governments around the world are taking steps to ensure their commitment to net zero.
Although correlated, it is important to understand the main differences between carbon neutrality and net zero. They exist two main points that distinguish these commitments environmental:
carbon neutral |
net zero |
Aims to reduce CO emissions2 mainly in the atmosphere. |
It aims to reduce emissions of all greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, including CO2, but not limited to it. Among the other gases are methane (CH4) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). |
The emission of CO2 must be equal to its absorption. |
The emission and absorption of all GHGs must be equivalent. |
It has short and medium term goals. |
It has long-term goals. |
Grades
|1| RESENDE, Sarah; GARCIA, Gustavo. Senate approves enacting Brazil’s goal of neutralizing carbon emissions by 2050 into law. G1, 03 Nov. 2021. Available in: https://g1.globo.com/politica/noticia/2021/11/03/senado-aprova-transformar-em-lei-meta-do-brasil-de-neutralizar-emissao-de-carbono-ate-2050.ghtml.
|2| GENIN, Carolina; FRASSON, Caroline Medeiros Rocha. The balance of COP26: what the Climate Conference meant for Brazil and the world. WRI Brazil, 22 Nov. 2021. Available in: https://www.wribrasil.org.br/noticias/o-saldo-da-cop26-o-que-conferencia-do-clima-significou-para-o-brasil-e-o-mundo.
|3| MARTINEZ, Marina. Recycling credit: Lula's government prioritizes collectors, but actions may be insufficient. Mongabay, 01 Mar. 2023. Available in: https://brasil.mongabay.com/2023/03/credito-de-reciclagem-governo-lula-prioriza-catadores-mas-acoes-podes-ser-insuficientes/.
By Paloma Guitarrara
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