What is Net Zero and why do I need to think about it?
What is Net Zero and why do I need to think about it?
You’ll have probably heard the term ‘Net Zero’ quite a bit lately. It’s a consistent sight within news stories and a phrase that is much-discussed within government. But what is Net Zero, why is it so talked about and why does it matter?
Here, we’re going to take a look at what it means and how it could change the way we drive in the future.
What does Net Zero mean?
Net zero essentially relates to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that the world produces and the amount that is being removed from the atmosphere.
Getting the right balance can help to reduce global warming and ensure that we’re not contributing more emissions than the world is able to cope with to keep a stable temperature.
So how do we reach Net Zero?
Net Zero is a delicate balancing act. Essentially, we want to only be emitting the same amount of gases that are being removed from the atmosphere. Ideally, we want to be emitting less than the planet can handle, which would help keep temperatures stable.
However, when we balance out the emissions we produce with the amount that is removed, that’s when true Net Zero is achieved.
Why do we need to achieve Net Zero?
Countries need to achieve Net Zero in order to reverse the effects of climate change. Global warming is something that is very much real and with it comes more extreme weather patterns and less predictable environments.
Net Zero is required to stabilise the planet’s temperatures which will, in turn, help to reduce the effects of climate change.
How does this apply to cars?
Cars - and transport in general - are a core part of how we can help to reduce emissions. Vehicles are getting cleaner with each new generation, but there’s still plenty of work to be done to really hit net zero.
Alternatively fuelled vehicles are core to the mission. It’s not just electric vehicles too, of course, but those powered by hydrogen and other means. The main point is that how their electricity is generated needs to be ‘clean’, too. However, electric vehicles do help to reduce localised emissions compared with petrol or diesel cars.
What are the UK’s plans for Net Zero?
The UK became one of the first major economies in 2019 to announce a binding target to reach net zero emissions by 2050. To achieve this, it has been said that it will reduce - and eventually eradicate - the use of fossil fuels for power or heating.
Of course, the UK’s plans to take new petrol and diesel cars off sale by 2030 is core to this target too.
