Impact Trust • Working glossary
Net zero
Not adding more emissions to the atmosphere than we take out.
Details
Our Take
Intuitive but widely abused.
Examples of Use
Climate policy, corporate targets
Ideological Framing
'Net' does a lot of quiet work -- it allows continued emissions as long as they are 'offset,' which opens the door to accounting tricks, unproven technologies, and shifting the burden to future generations or distant ecosystems. Net zero language matters because it shapes the climate trajectory that determines future humanitarian need.
Synonyms/Variants
Carbon neutral (related but distinct); Climate neutral; Zero emissions (more ambitious)
Typical everyday wording
Balancing what we put into the atmosphere with what we take out.
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