The NET-ZERO: a Real deal? or greenwashing agenda!
A brief history of climate change:
Before understanding the concept of Net-Zero, it becomes important to understand the development timeline when it comes to climate change, the progress, promises, and the proposals made.
Not far away in history, it was the discovery of the steam engine paving the way for the industrial revolution. Carbon emissions from fossil fuel burning reached one billion tonnes per year with large-scale use of coal in the 1920s. In 1955, a US researcher discovered that doubling CO2 concentrations would increase the temperature by 3–4° Celsius.
Later the term “Global warming” was put into the public domain in the title of a scientific paper.
Picture Credits@ NOAA
What is NET-ZERO?
Net-zero refers to a balance where emissions of greenhouse gases are offset by the absorption of an equivalent amount from the atmosphere. We know that the Earth’s regenerative capacity allows it to balance the composition of various elements through its natural cycles, thus maintaining equilibrium.
However, when there is an excess of elements in nature, this natural recycling capacity takes a hit. Thus, disturbing the fragile balance of the ecosystem.
Think about it like a bathtub – turn on the taps and add more water, pull out the plug, and water flows out. The amount of water in the bathtub depends on the input from the taps and the output via the plughole. So to keep the amount of water in the tub at the same level, you need to ensure that the input and output are balanced
Picture Credits@ Markus Spisker
Net-zero refers to a balance where emissions of greenhouse gases are offset by the absorption of an equivalent amount from the atmosphere. We know that the Earth’s regenerative capacity allows it to balance the composition of various elements through its natural cycles, thus maintaining equilibrium.
However, when there is an excess of elements in nature, this natural recycling capacity takes a hit. Thus, disturbing the fragile balance of the ecosystem.
Think about it like a bathtub — turn on the taps and add more water, pull out the plug, and water flows out. The amount of water in the bathtub depends on the input from the taps and the output via the plughole. So to keep the amount of water in the tub at the same level, you need to ensure that the input and output are balanced.
In a scenario where you fail to maintain your bathtub, the plug is compromised. Keep the tap running now, and in the absence of proper drainage, your tub will overflow.
Similarly, the unleashed larger-scale anthropogenic activities have caused unprecedented damage to Earth. Now, oceans, the atmosphere, etc., are overflowing like the bathtub with a damaged plughole since this is beyond the ecosystem’s carrying capacity.
NET-ZERO: why is it necessary?
The “carbon budget” science says that the eventual extent of global warming is proportional to the total amount of CO2 that anthropogenic emissions have added to the atmosphere. So, to stabilize climate change, CO2 emissions need to fall to zero.
Picture Credits@ Malachi Brooks
Global carbon dioxide emissions are already rebounding and rising as economies recover from last year’s pandemic‐induced shock. The health cum economic crisis was an opportunity for a profound, systemic shift to a more sustainable economy, but the lockdowns and bans were temporary.
It was surprising to see how rapidly nature recovered and the drop in pollution levels during the lockdowns. This was an eye-opener to the world order that humanity can still flourish for ages to come if we control our emissions. Although the recovery phase did not last long as nations hurried to unleash economic recovery, pointing out the question: How can we balance development and environment.
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