Carbon neutrality, the term for energy conservation and emission reduction, refers to the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced directly or indirectly generated by enterprises, groups or individuals within a certain period of time, and offset their own production through afforestation, energy conservation and emission reduction, etc. To achieve “zero emission” of carbon dioxide. The carbon peak refers to the steady decline of carbon emissions after entering the plateau period. Simply put, it means to "break-even" carbon dioxide emissions.
On September 22, 2020, the Chinese government proposed at the 75th UN General Assembly: “China will increase its nationally determined contributions, adopt more powerful policies and measures, and strive to reach the peak of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, and strive for 2060. Achieving carbon neutrality years ago."
On March 5, 2021, the 2021 State Council Government Work Report pointed out that we should do a good job in carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, formulate an action plan for peaking carbon emissions by 2030, and optimize the industrial structure and energy structure.
global warming
Global warming is the consequence of the changes in the earth’s climate caused by human actions. "Carbon" refers to natural resources composed of carbon elements such as petroleum, coal, and wood. "Carbon" consumes much more, and the culprit of global warming "carbon dioxide" is also produced. Along with human activities, global warming is also changing (influencing) people's lifestyles, bringing more and more problems.
In 2002, an ice shelf covering an area of 3,250 square kilometers in Antarctica fell off and melted and disappeared within 35 days; and according to the latest data from NASA, Greenland melted an average of 221 cubic kilometers of ice sheet each year, which was the melting of ice in 1996. Twice the amount.
"Carbon" means carbon dioxide, and "neutralization" means positive and negative offset. The emitted carbon dioxide or greenhouse gas is offset by afforestation, energy saving and emission reduction, etc. This is the so-called "carbon neutrality".
Means to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
One is carbon storage. Natural carbon sinks such as soil, forests and oceans absorb and store carbon dioxide in the air. What humans can do is plant trees and afforestation;
The second is carbon offset. By investing in the development of renewable energy and low-carbon clean technologies, one industry's carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced to offset another industry's emissions. The offset is calculated in tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. Once carbon dioxide emissions are completely eliminated, we will be able to enter a net-zero carbon society.
International development
Since its inception in 1997, the concept of "carbon neutrality" has gradually become popular in the West, achieving a transition from "avant-garde" to "public".
In 2006, the "New Oxford American Dictionary" named "carbon neutrality" as the word of the year. The main reason for the selection is that it has gradually gained more and more public support from a concept advocated by environmentalists, and it has become an actual greening action that is valued by the US government authorities.
On January 29, 2007, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) met in Paris. The five-day meeting is scheduled to publish a report on global climate change assessment after the end of February 2. The initial version of the report predicts that by 2100, the global temperature will rise by 2 to 4.5 degrees Celsius, and the global sea level will rise by 0.13 to 0.58 meters from the current level. The initial version of the report also mentioned that 90% of the climate change in the past 50 years may be caused by human activities. Some experts also said that it is possible to change the wording in the final version of the report and rewrite the possibility to 99%.
In July 2013, the "2020 Carbon Neutrality" plan for the aviation industry proposed by the International Air Transport Association surfaced. The plan puts forward three major commitment targets for the aviation industry: from 2009 to 2020, an average annual fuel efficiency increase of 1.5%; in 2020, carbon emissions will peak in 2020 and no longer increase; and emissions will be reduced to 2005 by 2050 Half of it. The most substantial impact of this plan on airlines of various countries is to pay for the part that exceeds the emission target after 2020 and pay the actual "carbon tax."
In October 2018, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a report calling on all countries to take action to control the temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius. To achieve this goal, rapid and far-reaching reforms are needed in the fields of land, energy, industry, construction, transportation, and cities.
China
In December 2008, China's first official carbon offset logo-the China Green Carbon Fund Carbon offset logo was released.
"2030" carbon target
On March 5, 2009, Premier Wen Jiabao especially emphasized in the two sessions of the conference that we must unswervingly strengthen energy conservation, emission reduction, and ecological environmental protection. On November 25, Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council convened an executive meeting of the State Council to study and deploy work on climate change, decide on my country's action goals for controlling greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, and propose corresponding policy measures and actions. The meeting decided that by 2020, my country’s carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP will be reduced by 40%-45% compared to 2005, and will be included in the national economic and social development medium and long-term plan as a binding indicator, and corresponding domestic statistics, monitoring, and assessment methods will be formulated.
On August 1, 2018, Sichuan Province held the launching ceremony of the “Carbon Neutral” project. It plans to build 500 acres of “carbon neutral” forest in Chengdu Longquanshan Urban Forest Park in October 2018, and it will take 20 years to increase carbon sinks. , To completely offset the total carbon emissions of 921 tons generated by this meeting.
In October 2019, the first national A-level tourist scenic spot quality improvement training class was held in Shaanxi, and it became the first carbon-neutral scenic spot training class in the country.
On September 22, 2020, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated at the 75th United Nations General Assembly: “China will increase its nationally determined contributions, adopt more effective policies and measures, and strive to reach the peak of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, and strive for 2060. Achieving carbon neutrality a year ago.” On December 24, China’s first institution engaged in carbon neutrality basic research, the “Carbon Neutrality Research Center of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences,” was formally established in Beijing.
In January 2021, the country’s first carbon-neutral waste sorting station landed in Chengdu, Sichuan. Residents can put in their daily recyclables, offset carbon emissions through recycling, and get benefits. On March 5, Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council in 2021 The State Council’s government work report in 2006 pointed out that we should do a good job in carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, formulate an action plan for carbon emissions peaking by 2030, and optimize the industrial structure and energy structure.
On March 15, 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping presided over the ninth meeting of the Central Finance and Economics Committee. One of the important topics was to study the basic ideas and main measures for achieving carbon peaks and carbon neutrality. The meeting pointed out the "14th Five-Year Plan". During the period, we must focus on seven aspects of work. In the opinion of industry experts, this meeting has clarified the positioning of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, and especially planned a clear "work drawing" for the carbon peaking work in the next five years.
One of the highlights of this conference is that it clearly clarified the positioning of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality in the country’s economy and society, and clearly incorporating carbon peaking and carbon neutrality into the overall layout of ecological civilization construction, which has a bearing on the Chinese nation. Sustainable development and building a community with a shared future for mankind.
China has set a goal of "striving to achieve the peak of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060".
United States
On June 11, 2001, Bush suddenly announced his withdrawal from the "Kyoto Protocol" after taking office as President of the United States. For efforts to slow global warming, Bush’s decision is undoubtedly a heavy blow.
On January 22, 2007, several large companies urged US President Bush to require the US government to take action to limit the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
In November 2014, Obama and President Xi Jinping reached an agreement, promising to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percentage points from 2005 levels by 2025. China has also promised to gradually reduce carbon dioxide emissions after reaching the peak of carbon emissions by 2030, and will strive to achieve it as soon as possible.
On March 19, 2015, US President Barack Obama signed an executive order requiring the US federal government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2025. In order to achieve this goal, the federal agencies of the US government need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 21 million tons from the total emissions level in 2008.
On April 22, 2021, Biden announced in his speech at the opening ceremony of the leaders’ climate summit that he would expand the US government’s emission reduction commitments to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 compared to 2005 and by 2050 Achieve carbon neutrality goals.
European Union
On November 28, 2018, the European Commission issued a long-term vision with the goal of achieving “carbon neutrality” by 2050, that is, reducing net carbon emissions to zero. According to the press release issued by the European Commission on the same day, this long-term vision reflects how the EU can lead a "carbon-neutral" development path and ensure social transformation by investing in realistic technological solutions, empowering the people, and coordinating actions in key areas such as finance and scientific research. fair and just.
Northern Europe
In November 2019, the Nordic countries Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland signed a joint statement on climate change in Helsinki, the capital of Finland. The five countries stated in the statement that they will work together to increase efforts to combat climate change and strive to achieve the goal of "carbon neutrality" faster than other countries in the world.
Japan
On October 26, 2020, according to the website of the British "New Scientist" magazine, the Japanese government stated that it will achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and the "next generation" solar cells may play an important role in Japan's realization of this goal. . Japan is the fifth largest carbon emitter in the world. Japan’s previous goal was to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050, in line with the United Kingdom and the European Union. Climate analysts rated Japan’s previous commitment as “seriously insufficient”.
On April 22, 2021, at the leaders’ climate summit, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga stated that Japan will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by 2030 compared to the 2013 level, which is much higher than the previous target of 26%. , And achieve the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.
Brazil
In April 2021, at the Online Leaders Climate Summit held in the United States, Brazilian President Bolsonaro pledged to achieve carbon neutrality in Brazil by 2050
