What is the difference between Net-Zero CO2 Emissions, Net-Zero Emissions and Being 100% Green?
Have you seen or heard of companies espousing net-zero and 100% green claims and wondered what those claims mean and why they do it?
Rising regulatory and social pressure has companies around the world prioritising climate commitments to reduce their impact on the environment and lessen their contribution to global warming. While the language in these claims and commitments appears similar on the surface the meanings and intended impacts vary.
What is the difference between Net-Zero Emissions and Net-Zero CO2 Emissions?
When a company’s claim includes the words ‘net-zero’ it means that while the company is still producing emissions through its operations and supply chain, it is working to remove an equal quantity of emissions from the atmosphere.
A company that sets a net-zero emissions goal signals their commitment to balancing their man-made greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with the artificial removal of GHG emissions from the atmosphere.
On the other hand, companies that commit to a net-zero CO2 emissions target are promising to balance only their man-made carbon dioxide emissions with virtual/financial CO2 removal over a specified period of time on a global scale. These commitments do not include targets to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions, including nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4) and fluorinated gas (HFCs, PFCs, NF3, SF6) emissions.
While the latter greenhouse gases contribute significantly less emissions than carbon dioxide in general, their impact on global warming can be worse than CO2 emissions. For example, one pound of nitrous oxide has an impact 300 times greater on warming the atmosphere than one pound of carbon dioxide.
What does it mean to be 100% Green?
Some companies claim to be 100% green and those claims should be examined more closely. In order to be completely green a company and its supply chain must have zero reliance on fossil fuels for the production of their products.
Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy is not available on a 24/7 basis. So when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow companies must find another way to power their facilities. As of now, most companies rely on fossil fuels rather than storing renewable energy spillage into batteries because battery technology is not readily available or cost effective…yet.
Why is this important?
Oversimplifying climate commitments is a form of empty virtue signaling and may even be considered greenwashing as the standard of care in respect to climate change has sparked more regulatory pressure to oust false achievements marketed to the public.
We have built a wealth of information to support companies to begin the sustainability accounting journey and effectively demonstrate their commitment to going green, driving net-zero CO2 emissions and net-zero emissions overall. Contact Huda directly at huda@wepower.com to know more.
