Carbon neutrality is a new and important concept that aims to promote environmental sustainability. In fact, if it is true that carbon dioxide emissions are increasingly high, their total removal makes the carbon impact equal to zero. And we too, with good lifestyle habits, can in our own small way contribute to making the planet we live in cleaner.
The carbon neutrality It is a highly debated topic everywhere: CO2 emissions are increasing, but to reduce the carbon impact we must act quickly. The European Parliament is the first to encourage the achievement of this goal. And it gives its definition of carbon neutrality, which makes it clear in a few lines what it is.
In fact, carbon neutrality is achieved when the same amount of CO2 is released and removed from the atmosphere, with a balance of zero. The simplest way is to not emit more carbon dioxide than can be absorbed by trees and plants, but it is not the only way to reduce the environmental impact of greenhouse gases.
It is the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, who draws up a list of key points to achieve the goal. Among these is a coordination between the various international structures to make progress towards strategies to combat climate change.
But we citizens can also contribute to the zero CO2 balance, by implementing a series of environmentally friendly behaviors that reduce emissions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, believes that we can reach a zero carbon footprint by 2050, but a commitment from everyone is important.
Carbon Neutrality: What is it?
The CO2 emissions are one of the main causes of climate change. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, humanity has made increasing use of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas which, when burned, are released into the atmosphere in the form of CO2. In May 2019, its concentration reached record levels, namely 415 ppm (parts per million).
CO2, along with other greenhouse gases, traps solar radiation and promotes global warming, another serious environmental problem. The effects in the coming decades could be catastrophic. In fact, we are talking about frequent droughts, extreme storms and heat waves, melting glaciers, rising sea levels and loss of biodiversity on a planetary scale.
In these apocalyptic scenarios, carbon neutrality appears as the simplest method to annihilate the primary cause of pollution and global warming. In short, we try to reach the goal of zero emissions, or at least compensate for them with their absorption.
What the UN says about climate neutrality
In a recent communication, the UN has indicated the direction we should take in the short term, to reach carbon neutrality in a short time:
- Set a price on carbon emissions that allows for investment in its removal and the development of low-carbon alternatives, such as renewable energy
- Stop building new coal-fired power plants, which are responsible for much of the emissions
- Shifting the burden of carbon tax from taxpayers to polluters
- Mandatory disclosure of climate-related economic risks
- Include the objective of carbon neutrality in the financial and fiscal decisions of countries
What can we do in our own small way?
But if in the global decision-making chambers there is talk of large-scale remedies to achieve carbon neutrality, we citizens can also contribute to the good results of the program. It is about improving our behaviors, but also and above all looking at the environment where we live as a place to respect and safeguard.
If we then consider the achievement of this goal as beneficial for us and future generations, we understand how important it is not to look away. In fact, carbon neutrality also means less environmental pollution and greater food securitynot only recovering biodiversity and improving the conditions of the planet.
For this reason, we just need to be more virtuous and start by reducing the use of the car to move around, in favor of greener means of transport. At home we can also install photovoltaic solar panels to have clean energy and reduce the need for gas, but also make homes ecological and sustainable, thinking about energy efficiency works.
And finally, let’s also say yes to KM0 shopping, with purchases from local suppliers and farmers, to encourage the economy of the place where we live, but also to reduce emissions from transport. If we also reduce meat consumption, whose industry is one of the most polluting, we do a favor not only to health, but also to the planet.
Sources
Source: www.greenstyle.it
