REPORT
Challenges to Achieving Carbon Neutrality
By Cheo Hong Keyong
REPORT
The international common goal to achieve carbon neutrality taking cognisance of the Climate Change threat to the environment has prompted several organisations to work towards promoting carbon neutrality and addressing climate change . Among the key notable entities are :
United Nations ( UN ): The UN plays a crucial role in promoting global efforts to address climate change . The Paris Agreement , adopted in 2015 under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change ( UNFCCC ), aims to limit global warming and achieve carbon neutrality .
Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change ( IPCC ): The IPCC is a scientific body under the UN that assesses the scientific knowledge on climate change . While it doesn ’ t champion carbon neutrality directly , its reports contribute to the global understanding of climate change , which influences policies promoting carbon neutrality .
European Union ( EU ): The EU has set ambitious targets to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 . The European Green Deal is a comprehensive plan outlining the EU ’ s commitment to sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions .
Non-Governmental Organisations ( NGOs ): Various NGOs , such as Greenpeace , World Wildlife
Fund ( WWF ), and others , actively work to promote carbon neutrality and advocate for policies to combat climate change .
Action by UN Environment
Carbon neutrality , or having a netzero carbon footprint , refers to achieving netzero carbon emissions by balancing a measured amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset .
Carbon dioxide emissions account for 82 % of global warming , with the rest coming mainly from the much more potent greenhouse gases , methane and nitrous oxide .
A November 2018 report by the World Meteorological Organisation of the United Nations showed that globally averaged concentrations of carbon dioxide reached 405.5 parts per million ( ppm ) in 2017 , up from 403.3 ppm in 2016 and 400.1 ppm in 2015 . Concentrations of methane and nitrous oxide also rose , while there was a resurgence of a potent greenhouse gas and ozone-depleting substance called CFC-11 , which is regulated under an international agreement to protect the ozone layer .
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