The Realities of Net Zero Emissions Written by Julia San Miguel In early November, the world watched Glasgow as the United Nations held their 26th Climate Conference, more commonly referred to as COP26. Nearly two hundred parties met to discuss and debate climate policy as climate scientists have become increasingly aware of the potential devastating effects of climate change. Above all, one oft-repeated phrase has stood out in discussions of future environmental policy – “net zero emissions.” The Paris Agreement of 2015 outlined the urgency of ensuring that warming of the planet stays “well below 2°C” of pre-industrial levels. The agreement, however, does not outline exactly how each participating party should do this; instead, it is up to the countries themselves to determine how best to prevent catastrophic warming. As of 2021, eighty-one countries have pledged to have “net zero” carbon emissions by 2050, the midpoint of the century. On the surface, this is a sound idea, as the absence of new carbon emissions would prevent further warming of the planet. However, the reality of net zero emissions is not so simple.
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