#PlanetPartners: Net zero clarity needed to prevent corner-cutting on carbon reduction

Net zero targets must avoid pitfalls like ‘misguided’ carbon offsetting if they are to genuinely help combat climate change, a new report has warned.

The COP 26 Universities Network Briefing Paper on Net Zero report, co-authored by a University of Reading climate change policy expert, explores what should and should not be included in net zero carbon emissions plans by countries, regions and corporations and outlines best practice.

The briefing is one of a series being produced by teams of academics at UK Universities that are part of the Network. The reports are intended to set out some of the key issues around climate change science and policy in the run up to the UNFCCC COP26 event being hosted by the UK in Glasgow later this year.

The net zero targets briefing was drawn up by a team of both climate scientists and policy experts, including Professor Chris Hilson, Director of the Reading Centre for Climate and Justice at the University of Reading. Professor Hilson also appears on a podcast on the same topic, released by the Network at the same time as the briefing.

Professor Hilson contributed a number of the legal and social science elements of the latest briefing, including aspects of climate justice and the need for accountability in relation to net zero targets.

Professor Hilson, from the University of Reading’s School of Law, said: “Net zero targets will be crucial to helping the world meet the Paris Agreement ambitions to limit global warming and combat climate change. However, there is still considerable uncertainty over precisely what net zero actually means.

“Offsetting carbon emissions is a useful tool, but can be misguided and create a false sense of security. Planting a few trees is no substitute for not emitting greenhouse gases in the first place.

“Achieving clarity on what net zero looks like is key to preventing corner-cutting and to guide policymakers in setting proper, meaningful targets that look good in practice as well on paper.”

Net zero targets have been announced all over the world in recent years, and set out ambitions to ensure carbon emissions are balanced out by offsetting or removal, for example by planting trees to remove carbon dioxide or via carbon capture and storage.

However, many targets depend too much on removing carbon dioxide from the air or offsetting schemes like this, to avoid the difficult task of reducing emissions levels. Others rely on international ‘credits’ that allow quotas of emissions and can be purchased from other countries, or ignore the fact that many nations import vast numbers of products such as mobile phones, which generate greenhouse gases in other countries where they are manufactured.

The University of Reading is playing a leading role in efforts to make Reading carbon net zero by 2030. University experts are part of the Reading Climate Change Partnership, of which Professor Tim Dixon in the School of the Built Environment is co-chair.

The University has also made significant progress in recent years to reduce its own institutional carbon footprint. It was on target to surpass its target of 45% carbon reduction by 2021 before the Covid-19 lockdown began, and has this year been awarded £3.4m in funding to further decarbonise its campuses.

For more COP26 Universities Network briefings, visit www.gla.ac.uk/research/cop26/briefings