Net ZERO Policy
Net Zero: An international policy target
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s special report Global Warming of 1.5ºC provided evidence on the requirement that we meet a global net zero target by the middle of the century, providing a deadline for policy targets. And in 2015, a global target to reach net zero emissions was set with governments around the world taking up the policy goal by ratifying the Paris Agreement.
Remarkably, a new report from the think tank ECIU shows that 49 percent of global GDP is already covered by cities, states, and provinces, and countries that either have net zero targets or are working toward them. This surge of net zero targets shows strong ambition but a gap remains between ambition and action, and often this is due to a gap in information about what a net zero aligned policy entails. On this site we offer resources for assessing whether policy initiatives are aligned with the global goal to reduce temperature outcomes and bring visibility to trends and challenges in current net zero policy.
As a start for policy makers see the minimum criteria for net zero policy and how to join the UNFCCC Race to Zero.
Net zero at a global scale requires that all emissions of greenhouse gases should be balanced by their removal from the atmosphere.
Policies by sector
Find out more about how key policies are driving progress to net zero in each sector.
Net Zero APPG
Read the Net Zero APPG’s 10pt Net Zero Action Plan.
National policies
Find out how national politics can accelerate the transition to net zero.
Local policies
Find out what policies enacted on the local level have the most impact towards net zero goals.
Net Zero for My Sector
News and Events
The Fossil Fuel Industry Knows How To Stop Global Warming, But Why Don’t They? – Myles Allen
Oxford University climate science scholar Myles Allen presented this Ted Talk at Countdown: a global initiative to accelerate solutions to the climate crisis. The fossil fuel industry knows how to stop global warming, but they’re waiting ... Read more
Client Earth Publishes New ‘Principles For Paris-Alignment’
Environmental law firm ClientEarth has laid down a set of ground rules for corporate net zero pledges, in a bid to ensure the growing number of climate promises being touted by the private sector are effective in their stated aim of reducing ... Read more
New Research Uncovers Barriers For Irish Business On Decarbonisation Journey
New research on the readiness of businesses in Ireland to fully reduce their carbon emissions shows that including Scope 3 emissions in a company’s footprint assessment is proving a difficult task, Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI), the ... Read more
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