IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcli/v12y2022i1d10.1038_s41558-021-01245-w.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The meaning of net zero and how to get it right

Author

Listed:
  • Sam Fankhauser

    (University of Oxford
    University of Oxford)

  • Stephen M. Smith

    (University of Oxford)

  • Myles Allen

    (University of Oxford)

  • Kaya Axelsson

    (University of Oxford)

  • Thomas Hale

    (University of Oxford)

  • Cameron Hepburn

    (University of Oxford)

  • J. Michael Kendall

    (University of Oxford)

  • Radhika Khosla

    (University of Oxford)

  • Javier Lezaun

    (University of Oxford)

  • Eli Mitchell-Larson

    (University of Oxford)

  • Michael Obersteiner

    (University of Oxford)

  • Lavanya Rajamani

    (University of Oxford)

  • Rosalind Rickaby

    (University of Oxford)

  • Nathalie Seddon

    (University of Oxford)

  • Thom Wetzer

    (University of Oxford
    University of Oxford)

Abstract

The concept of net-zero carbon emissions has emerged from physical climate science. However, it is operationalized through social, political and economic systems. We identify seven attributes of net zero, which are important to make it a successful framework for climate action. The seven attributes highlight the urgency of emission reductions, which need to be front-loaded, and of coverage of all emission sources, including currently difficult ones. The attributes emphasize the need for social and environmental integrity. This means carbon dioxide removals should be used cautiously and the use of carbon offsets should be regulated effectively. Net zero must be aligned with broader sustainable development objectives, which implies an equitable net-zero transition, socio-ecological sustainability and the pursuit of broad economic opportunities.

Suggested Citation

  • Sam Fankhauser & Stephen M. Smith & Myles Allen & Kaya Axelsson & Thomas Hale & Cameron Hepburn & J. Michael Kendall & Radhika Khosla & Javier Lezaun & Eli Mitchell-Larson & Michael Obersteiner & Lava, 2022. "The meaning of net zero and how to get it right," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 15-21, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:12:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41558-021-01245-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-021-01245-w
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-021-01245-w
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41558-021-01245-w?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shaikh Eskander & Sam Fankhauser & Joana Setzer, 2021. "Global Lessons from Climate Change Legislation and Litigation," Environmental and Energy Policy and the Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 2(1), pages 44-82.
    2. Dikau, Simon & Volz, Ulrich, 2021. "Central bank mandates, sustainability objectives and the promotion of green finance," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Joaquín Bernal-Ramírez & Jair Ojeda-Joya & Camila Agudelo-Rivera & Felipe Clavijo-Ramírez & Carolina Durana-Ángel & Clark Granger-Castaño & Daniel Osorio-Rodríguez & Daniel Parra-Amado & José Pulido &, 2022. "Impacto macroeconómico del cambio climático en Colombia," Revista ESPE - Ensayos sobre Política Económica, Banco de la Republica de Colombia, issue 102, pages 1-62, July.
    2. Laurence Scialom, 2020. "Pratiques et doctrine des banques centrales au défi du changement climatique : rupture ou continuité ?," EconomiX Working Papers 2020-7, University of Paris Nanterre, EconomiX.
    3. Dikau, Simon & Volz, Ulrich, 2021. "Out of the window? Green monetary policy in China: window guidance and the promotion of sustainable lending and investment," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 111489, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    4. Zhang, Dongyang, 2023. "Does green finance really inhibit extreme hypocritical ESG risk? A greenwashing perspective exploration," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    5. Tobias Kranz & Hamza Bennani & Matthias Neuenkirch, 2024. "Monetary Policy and Climate Change: Challenges and the Role of Major Central Banks," Research Papers in Economics 2024-01, University of Trier, Department of Economics.
    6. Da Gao & Xiaotian Zhou & Jing Wan, 2024. "Unlocking sustainability potential: The impact of green finance reform on corporate ESG performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 4211-4226, September.
    7. Josep Ferret Mas & Alexander Mihailov, 2021. "Green Quantitative Easing as Intergenerational Climate Justice: On Political Theory and Pareto Efficiency in Reversing Now Human-Caused Environmental Damage," Economics Discussion Papers em-dp2021-16, Department of Economics, University of Reading.
    8. Konrad Prandecki & Edyta Gajos, 2018. "Reductin of greenhouse gases emission and sustainability: The multi-criteria approach," International Conference on Competitiveness of Agro-food and Environmental Economy Proceedings, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, vol. 7, pages 46-54.
    9. Kakuho Furukawa & Hibiki Ichiue & Noriyuki Shiraki, 2020. "How Does Climate Change Interact with the Financial System? A Survey," Bank of Japan Working Paper Series 20-E-8, Bank of Japan.
    10. Mathias Lund Larsen, 2023. "Bottom-up market-facilitation and top-down market-steering: comparing and conceptualizing green finance approaches in the EU and China," Asia Europe Journal, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 61-80, March.
    11. George, Ammu & Huang, Jingong & Xie, Taojun, 2022. "Assessing the dual mandates of sustainability-linked monetary policy," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    12. Xu, Xin & An, Haizhong & Huang, Shupei & Jia, Nanfei & Qi, Yajie, 2024. "Measurement of daily climate physical risks and climate transition risks faced by China's energy sector stocks," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(PB), pages 625-640.
    13. Paola D'Orazio, 2022. "Mapping the emergence and diffusion of climate-related financial policies: Evidence from a cluster analysis on G20 countries," International Economics, CEPII research center, issue 169, pages 135-147.
    14. Zhang, Ge & Guo, Bingnan & Lin, Ji, 2023. "The impact of green finance on enterprise investment and financing," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PD).
    15. Xu, Baochang & Li, Sihui & Afzal, Ayesha & Mirza, Nawazish & Zhang, Meng, 2022. "The impact of financial development on environmental sustainability: A European perspective," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    16. Liu, Ying & Feng, Chao, 2023. "Promoting renewable energy through national energy legislation," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    17. Francesca Diluiso & Barbara Annicchiarico & Matthias Kalkuhl & Jan C. Minx, 2020. "Climate Actions and Stranded Assets: The Role of Financial Regulation and Monetary Policy," CESifo Working Paper Series 8486, CESifo.
    18. Ingo Fender & Mike McMorrow & Vahe Sahakyan & Omar Zulaica, 2020. "Reserve management and sustainability: the case for green bonds?," BIS Working Papers 849, Bank for International Settlements.
    19. Rong Wang & Fayuan Wang, 2022. "Exploring the Role of Green Finance and Energy Development towards High-Quality Economic Development: Application of Spatial Durbin Model and Intermediary Effect Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-17, July.
    20. Sami Alabdulwahab, 2023. "The Impact of a Sustainable Economic Development Focus on the Real Exchange Rate in Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-21, September.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:12:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41558-021-01245-w. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.