Net Zero

What is Net Zero? 

Net zero refers to the balance between greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted into the atmosphere and the amount removed from it. Achieving net zero means that any GHG emissions produced by human activities are counterbalanced by an equivalent amount of emissions removed through either natural processes or technological solutions. The ultimate goal of net zero is to eliminate or significantly reduce the contribution to global warming and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Key Aspects of Net Zero

• Improving the efficiency of energy use in industries, transportation, and buildings to reduce overall energy consumption.
• Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources like wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal to decrease carbon emissions.
• Implementing sustainable practices in agriculture, forestry, and land use to reduce emissions from these sectors.

• Enhancing natural processes like afforestation, reforestation, and soil carbon sequestration to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere.
• Developing and deploying technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) and direct air capture (DAC) to physically remove CO2 from the air.

• Investing in projects that reduce or remove GHG emissions, such as renewable energy projects, reforestation, and methane capture from landfills, to compensate for emissions that are difficult to eliminate.

• Governments and international bodies set regulations and standards to limit emissions and promote low-carbon technologies.
• Companies adopting net zero targets and integrating sustainability into their business strategies.

Why Net Zero Matters

• Achieving net zero is critical to limiting global warming to 1.5°C or 2°C above pre-industrial levels, as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recommended.
• Reducing emissions helps protect ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources.
• Transitioning to a low-carbon economy can create jobs, spur innovation, and reduce costs associated with climate-related damages.
• Lowering emissions improves air quality, reducing health issues related to pollution such as respiratory diseases.

Global Efforts

• Paris Agreement: An international treaty where countries have committed to limit global warming and achieve net zero emissions by mid-century.
• National Policies: Many countries have set national targets and strategies to reach net zero emissions by 2050 or earlier.
• Corporate Initiatives: Numerous companies are pledging to reach net zero emissions, driven by consumer demand, regulatory pressures, and the financial benefits of sustainable practices.

In summary, net zero is a comprehensive and transformative approach to addressing climate change, involving a combination of reducing emissions, enhancing natural and technological carbon removal, and implementing supportive policies and practices across all sectors of society.

The text above is written with the help of AI.

Cegal and Net Zero

Energy and carbon own operations - setting the baseline for becoming net zero

Cegal has committed to setting a science-based climate target for reducing greenhouse emissions in line with the 1.5C Paris Agreement.

Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) provides a clearly defined pathway for companies to reduce GHG emissions, helping prevent the worst impacts of climate change and futureproof business growth.

Targets are considered science-based if they are in line with what the latest climate science deems necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement – limiting global warming to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels.

Within two years we will set our science-based target and commit to it. That means that we need to assess our current emissions and create a target that we believe we can reach and that is in line with the science-based target process.

Our GHG emissions calculation was not detailed enough to establish a baseline with significant accuracy. To improve the GHG emission data we will from 2023 base the measurement and calculation on Position Green ESG software and advisory expertise.

A new baseline for GHG calculation is to be set based on the 2024 measurement.

Setting the baseline for becoming net zero

We are planning for mapping what the baseline would be for becoming net zero. We believe that ensuring the scope of this work is an important step towards ensuring we do what we say.

This is how Cegal works with sustainability >

Click here to download the Cegal Sustainability Report 2024 >