Zero carbon, net zero, real zero, true zero, and gross zero are all terms being talked out in the UK – but what do they all mean for a small business trying to work out what they need to do.
What is net zero?
Net zero is a term we have started to get used to and understand in the UK. The aim is a balanced state between the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) that’s produced and the amount that’s removed from the atmosphere. It can be achieved through a combination of emission reduction and emission removal. (National Grid)
Net zero doesn’t mean no carbon emissions at all. It is usually achieved by measuring carbon emissions, reducing them wherever possible, and then off-setting the remainder with carbon credits or renewable energy certificates. Offsetting needs to be certified.
Carbon credit schemes often plant trees to form forests which are carbon sinks (they remove carbon from the atmosphere) and therefore they balance out the carbon emissions caused by doing business.
What is gross zero carbon?
Gross zero carbon or real zero carbon or true zero carbon as it is sometimes called is when a company or industry ‘has completely eliminated carbon emissions from their operations’ (National Grid). Energy companies could get very close to gross zero carbon with renewable energy. The National Grid is striving to reach zero carbon in real terms, rather than relying on offsetting.
What is wrong with offsetting?
Offsetting doesn’t solve the problem of carbon emissions. If a company still produces carbon emissions, they are still affecting the climate.
There is only so much carbon that can be captured by offsetting schemes. Not all of the forests planted to offset carbon are well-managed and so they don’t capture as much carbon as anticipated.
“Carbon offsetting does not reduce emissions at the source and purchasing offsets should be a last resort, after other measures to reduce or avoid emissions have been explored. (WWF)”
Why are carbon emissions bad?
Much has been written about the effect carbon emissions, or greenhouse gasses, have on our climate. More carbon emissions increase the greenhouse effect, where the gas traps the sun’s heat, warming up our planet.
Originally the net zero target date was 2030 and the aim was to prevent temperatures consistently rising to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. More importantly, every incremental increase in temperature will impact something (NOAA Climate.gov).
That could be the loss of animals or plants. It could be unreasonably hot temperatures affecting human health. It could mean flooding from melting ice caps. Or drought causing dry conditions that mean less food production and more frequent forest fires.
Nasa pointed out that even if we stopped producing carbon emissions now, it will take some time before the effects are reversed. In other words, temperatures will continue to rise after we take action. And we need to take action now.
Net zero carbon goals
Even as small businesses, we can make changes to reduce our carbon emissions to reach our net zero carbon goals. And potentially, even reach gross zero carbon.
The main carbon emitter for most small businesses is caused by using fossil fuels. These include heating and ventilation and vehicle fuel. They can be measured and reduced or alternative fuels can be explored e.g. renewables or electric vehicles.
However, it is important to remember that net zero requires the reduction of all three scopes of emissions. Scope 3 emissions are those caused by third party supply chains and are more difficult to control. A gross zero carbon goal would be ambitious, but in theory is achievable.
And small businesses can lobby for change with bigger firms and suppliers. This, in turn, could reduce demand for fossil fuels and increase demand for clean energy.
If your small business would like to make a start, Blue Patch offers free net zero training to members.
