CLIMATE NEUTRALITY
Climate neutrality means reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. To reach climate neutrality, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced to as close to zero as possible, to a level that sinks can safely absorb.
Climate neutrality has a crucial role to play in keeping global heating at 1.5 °C (or even well below 2 °C), as agreed in the Paris Agreement – in other words, to avoid the worst climate disruption. This requires roughly halving emissions globally every decade, or cutting them by more than 7% each year.
Achieving climate neutrality will require some radical changes to our economies. Marginal adjustments or relying on technological solutions won’t be enough. But although this will certainly be a challenge, WE CAN DO IT.
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THERE ARE A FEW IMPORTANT PLACES WE NEED TO START, RIGHT NOW!
Ending all investment in high-carbon infrastructure, such as fossil-fuel production and transport
Increase renewable energy infrastructure, and replace all fossil fuel energy with clean, renewable sources
Investing in a renovation wave across Europe to make our homes more energy efficient and low-emission
Electrify our vehicle fleets and put the combustion engine behind us, while investing in better public transport, long distance train options, and removing unfair tax exemptions for flights
Incentivize organic farming, support carbon sequestration and protect biodiversity by reducing the use of artificial fertilizers, pesticides and intensive farming practices, importing less and strengthening our local, small-scale farmers.
These are just a few of the big things we need. But investing in our communities, protecting and restoring natural sinks, moving industry towards a circular economy, reducing our consumption, switching to a more plant-based diet, and many more actions can all contribute to putting us on track to reach climate neutrality.