Net Zero refers to achieving a balance between emissions produced and emissions taken out of the atmosphere.
Becoming Net Zero by 2050 is possible with ‘innovation’ and ‘scale up’ in low carbon technology, land use and lifestyle, according to a report by Energy Systems Catapult.
Adopting a number of lifestyle changes such as a vegan or vegetarian diet could help reduce greenhouse emissions. Transitioning away from current levels of livestock would ‘free up’ land for afforestation and biomass crops, both contributing to carbon sequestration.
Scott Milne, insight and evidence lead at Energy Systems Catapult, said: “Last year the UK became the first major economy in the world to commit to a ‘Net Zero’ emissions target by 2050.
“Now for the first time, we’ve modelled hundreds of potential pathways to getto Net Zero by 2050, ramping up or down different technologies and behaviour changes – to understand the different combinations, interactions and trade-offs of competing decarbonisation options to reach the most cost-optimised approaches.
“However, what stands out is – no matter which pathway the UK takes – innovation, investment and incentives across low carbon technology, land use and lifestyle is essential to achieve Net Zero. And there are massive economic opportunities for the UK to lead the world in these areas.”
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) set the 2050 target in May 2019, where the UK Government amended the Climate Change Act from 80% to 100% emissions reduction.