Climate Neutral Now is an initiative launched by UN Climate Change in 2015 to

encourage everyone in society to take action to help achieve a climate neutral

world by mid-century, as enshrined in the Paris Agreement.

To avoid the worst effects of climate change, science tells us that we must limit
global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, or a maximum of 2 degrees Celsius
above pre-industrial levels, which is also the central goal of the Paris Agreement.
To achieve this objective, relying solely on governmental action will not be
sufficient. We all have a role to play.

We have already reached 1.1 degrees Celsius of global warming. We could reach
1.5 by 2030. We need urgent action!

A Carbon Footprint

Before addressing what it means to be carbon negative, we first need to understand

the concept of a Carbon Footprint. Every individual on Earth has a carbon
footprint, which can be defined as the amount of greenhouse gases emitted directly
and indirectly by an individual’s daily activities. For example, a person would
directly produce carbon dioxide by burning firewood to cook his or her food.
Another person might add to their footprint indirectly by buying an industrially-
made product whose creation involved a lot of greenhouse gas emissions. Driving
cars, flying in airplanes, buying an endless stream of electronic devices, and even
eating meat… all of this adds up to your personal carbon footprint, i.e., your
contribution to the existing environmental crisis.

Carbon Neutral: achieving net zero carbon dioxide emissions by balancing

carbon emissions with carbon removal or simply eliminating carbon emissions
altogether

For example, a building with solar panels that sends renewable energy to the grid
that is equal to the energy it uses from the grid can be considered “net zero” energy
or carbon neutral.

Over time the need for offsets is going to decline as energy systems become ever
more low carbon, healthy ecosystems like forests expand and we arrive at a climate
 neutral world in the second half of the century. Climate change will affect
everyone, yet everyone can effect positive change starting today and beginning
now.

What can you do? 

Climate Neutral Now invites organizations, governments and citizens to work
towards global climate neutrality by addressing their own climate footprint through
a 3-step method:

 Measure their greenhouse gas emissions. also called the carbon footprint;

 Reduce them as much as possible through their own actions; and
 Compensate those which cannot be currently avoided by using UN certified
emission reductions

The Forest Green Rovers is bringing eco-thinking and technology to a new and

large audience: football fans. In 2010, the team began its journey to becoming the
world’s first carbon neutral football club and has since been described by FIFA, as
“the world's greenest football club”.
The Forest Green Rovers, based in Gloucestershire, England, introduced many
sustainability measures, including solar panels, electric car charging points, water
recycling, an organic pitch, and an entirely vegan menu for players and fans.

Monash University, Australia’s largest university, has committed to reach net

zero emissions by 2030 for all four of its Australian campuses. It has been
decarbonising its campuses since 2005 when it became the first Australian
university to commit to an energy reduction target

Key facts
 Monash University was the first Australian university to commit to an
energy reduction target. This began their low carbon journey in earnest and laid
foundations for the Net Zero Initiative;.
 Monash University is investing AUD 135 million to become ‘net zero
emissions by 2030’ across all four of its Australian campuses;

Apple has transitioned to 100% renewable energy for the electricity it uses in its
offices, retail stores and data centres in 43 countries across the world, which has
 reduced emissions from direct operations to only 2% of the company’s carbon
footprint. Apple is also expanding its emission reduction efforts with its Supplier
Clean Energy Program to transition its entire supply chain to 100% renewable
energy.

Key Facts
 In the past three years, Apple has reduced its carbon footprint by 35%.
 Apple has transitioned to 100% renewable energy for the electricity used at
its offices, retail stores and data centres in 43 countries across the world.
 Apple has decreased average product energy use by 70% across all of its
major product lines.
 Apple has also partnered with Conservation International to protect and
restore a 11,000 hectare mangrove forest in Colombia, which is expected to
sequester 1 million tonnes of CO2 over the project’s lifetime.

Zero Carbon
• This is a case when no carbon was emitted from the get-go, so no carbon
needs to be captured or offset.
• For example, a household or commercial building that is running entirely on
solar, and using zero fossil fuels can label it’s energy “zero carbon.”

CARBON NEGATIVE
• Negative Emissions: Refers to a number of technologies, the objective of
which is the large-scale removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
• Paired with widespread renewable energy, negative emissions will be a key
player

Climeworks

• Builds modular machines that run on waste heat, meaning that they need
minimal added energy to operate, to filter CO 2 straight out of the air. This is
called direct air capture.
• After it’s filtered, Climeworks stores it and turns it into products, selling
CO2 to the food and beverage, greenhouse, energy, and materials industries.
Boom.

Carbon Engineering

• Have you ever dreamt about making fuel from thin air?
• This is what Carbon Engineering does. It uses direct air capture technology
to separate CO2 from air. Then it combines the CO2 with hydrogen from
water to create fuel for vehicles.
• Importantly, this fuel can be used in the ships, planes, and trucks we operate
today! Providing a clean fuel source that can be used now.

Global Thermostat
• Global Thermostat is also on the direct air capture train. But in addition to
fuel, its technology uses the CO2 it captures to make products including bio
fertilizers, building materials, and plastics.
• It turns out the products and fuels we use can be made without sucking
ancient carbon out of the ground. And better yet, we can lower atmospheric
CO2 levels in the process.
• Carbon capture technologies are the sidekick that clean energy needs in the
battle against climate change. And this is just the beginning.

Bhutan carbon negative

That remarkable country is the Kingdom of Bhutan. Nestled within the

Himalayas, Bhutan is barely visible on the map of the world. It is a landlocked
country between India and China, and despite being a poor, tiny nation, it is the
first and only country to officially be carbon negative.
• What Does It Mean To Be Carbon Negative?
• Bhutan’s carbon footprint is only 2.2 million tons of CO2, but interestingly,
Bhutan has dedicated 72% of its land to forest cover. It has so many trees
 that the country has become a carbon sink for 6 million tons of CO2!
Therefore, while no other country has even achieved becoming carbon
neutral, Bhutan has managed to be carbon-negative!

• Here are some of the ways Bhutan became carbon neutral:

• A ban was put on export logging.
• The constitution was amended to include that forested areas would not drop
below 60%.
• Free hydroelectric power generated by Bhutan’s many rivers was utilised
over environmentally devastating fossil fuels.
• Free electricity is provided to rural farmers.
• Education is free for everyone in Bhutan, and so is healthcare!