Net zero or carbon neutral refers to a state in which the greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere are balanced by removal out of the atmosphere.

What you need to know?

• The Paris agreement in 2015 added a complementary goal towards net-zero.
• IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°Cin 2018 highlighted the need for net zero.

Why do we need to focus?

• The IPCC’s Special Report Global Warming of 5°Cmakes it clear that it is necessary to achieve a global balance between emissions and removals by 2050 in order to cap the rise in global temperatures below 1.5°C.

What India is doing to achieve Net Zero?

• India has aimed at reducing net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to zero by 2070.
• Promotion and adoption of green and clean electricity.
• Integration of Mission LiFE.
• Adoption of BS VI norms in vehicles.
• Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) to set up a Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) production plant.
• Identification of degraded land through the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India, published by the Space Applications Centre.
• The Ministry of Environment has launched the National Clean Air Programme(NCAP) and PRANA a portal for monitoring the implementation of NCAP.

What is greenwashing?

• It is the deceptive marketing practice of portraying a company, product, or policy as more environmentally friendly than it actually is to boost public image and sales.
• It includes promoting net-zero, carbon-neutral goals without a credible, actionable plan.

Source: PIB