Carbon neutrality refers to the state where the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted into the atmosphere is balanced by an equivalent amount of CO2 being removed, resulting in no net increase in atmospheric carbon levels. Achieving carbon neutrality involves two key strategies: reducing carbon emissions through energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy, and improved technologies, and offsetting any remaining emissions by investing in activities that capture and store CO2, such as reforestation or carbon capture projects. When the CO2 emitted is fully offset by these removal efforts, an entity—whether it’s a company, country, or individual—is considered to have reached carbon neutrality.
This concept is central to global efforts to combat climate change, as stabilizing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is critical to limiting global warming. Many governments and organizations are setting goals to achieve carbon neutrality by mid-century, aligning with the targets of international agreements like the Paris Agreement, which aims to significantly reduce global carbon emissions to mitigate the effects of climate change.