Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on 1st November 2021 at the UN Climate change conference, (COP26 summit) that India will achieve Carbon-Net-Zero or Carbon net-neutrality by 2070. The term Carbon (net) neutrality is gaining popularity, thanks to some valid reasons. First of all, let’s get an insight into what Carbon neutrality is.
What is Carbon Neutrality
To find a solution to the increasing level of harmful gases in the atmosphere, the world leaders decided on neutralizing the Greenhouse Gases with an equal action in the reverse direction.
Carbon neutrality is said to be reached when the carbon released in the atmosphere is balanced by the carbon absorbed by some means like carbon consumed by the plants to make food and oxygen. In other words, planting trees is one of the ways to reduce GHG emissions. We have to create more such reservoirs to dump the harmful gases and make the environment clean.
The purpose of attaining Carbon Neutrality is to eliminate the carbon footprint and achieve healthy Earth. One more thing should be made clear that though the term (Carbon neutrality) includes only Carbon, the whole idea is to remove the hazardous greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Reduce their emission or productively use them.
* Please note that CO2 contributes about 76% to greenhouse gas emissions, Methane 16% and Nitrous Oxide 6%.
What’s the urgency to Achieve Carbon Neutrality
Achieving Carbon Neutrality is supposed to be the world’s most urgent mission.
The urgency is justified because of the rising concerns about drastic climate changes, pollution levels and surge in the new diseases. The major culprit behind all this is the rise in greenhouse gas emissions. Let’s face it, the urgency to achieve Carbon Neutrality is very much a valid point. Here are some aspects to understand it better:
1. Biodiversity is collapsing and this should be a major cause of concern. Mountain snow is melting, deserts are expanding and oceans are suffocating with the plastic we are throwing. Though nature presented us with Covid-19 to return to normal, the damage humans have done is far bigger than nature’s small effort. Do you feel the same?
2. Extreme weather conditions are occurring more than ever. Human intervention in nature’s default path is the reason, there’s no doubt in it. We face more floods, more volcanoes, more landslides and heatwaves today. What can be more important than saving our planet by reducing GHG emissions?
3. Rising sea level is a threat to our existence. No surprise, the European Parliament backed climate neutrality by 2050 and a 60% emission reduction target by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
4. Acidification of the oceans is ruining biodiversity. Sea animals are dying because of the wrong actions of humans. The circle of the existence of the living beings is disturbed and there can’t be a more urgent need to clean up our mess.
We are in the middle of the chaos created by us. It’s time to clean up the Earth and its environment to make it worth living for our future generations.
PANORAMIC RIPPLES 
Carbon neutrality is a must if India wants to achieve net zero in 2070. Thank you 🌍
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You have touched upon a very valid and most important topic, Aditi. Even I talk about this one only in my workshops with kids
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Creating awareness is necessary and at individual level we all should try 🙂
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I didnt know about this topic, Aditi. Thanks for sharing.I really wish carbon neutrality is achieved. At least our future generation won’t have to wear breathing masks.
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This is a very vital topic right now. But you know, companies, processes, and products become carbon neutral when they calculate their carbon emissions and compensate for what they have produced via carbon offsetting projects. Therefore, emissions that cannot be avoided locally can be offset by carbon offset projects in another location. Yes, it is necessary, I hope PMO takes the required steps to keep his word.
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This is a very important topic & one we must take seriously if we wish to save the earth for our future generations. Big companies can definitely influence this change. Government incentive or penalties can also help in making it a way of life.
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I feel greater political will and a concerted global effort is needed to reverse the damage humans have done. Else, it’s just talk.
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Your post is very informative. Countries have been trying to achieve carbon neutrality but at the same time, the people making the decisions use fuel-guzzling transportation.
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A very important post, Aditi. Growing up I remember there was a show “Race to Save the Planet”. All these decades later, there is still a lot to achieve. The developed nations are often the biggest rule breakers.
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It is already late. If we still not work upon this , than when will. The whole has to work together.
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Very good topic for the blogpost. I read that in US companies can sell their carbon credit to net postive carbon companies. I wonder if something like that would work in India as well.
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That’s a very informative post about Carbon Neutrality. This is a very important topic to think about. It’s high time to do efforts to save our planet for our future generations.
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That’s a very informative post about Carbon Neutrality.This is a very important topic to think about. It’s high time to do efforts to save our planet for our future generations.
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