Delivering Absolute Zero Emissions

According to a recent report published by UK FIRES, a research program sponsored by the UK Government, reaching absolute zero is possible through our current technologies and incremental lifestyle changes. 

We need to reduce our GHG emissions by 2050, but scientists say we are not meeting this goal.

For decades, we have relied on breakthrough technologies that will reduce emissions to continue our lifestyles. Although these innovations are promising, operating at a scale or delivering zero emissions will take 30 years.

But we can’t wait for these breakthrough technologies to deliver zero emissions by 2050. Instead, the report says, we can start responding now by using today’s technologies coupled with incremental lifestyle changes.

Making these changes happen will require three things:

• Each one of us needs to be part of the process, making lifestyle changes that could make zero-emissions a reality,
• The government needs to treat it as a challenge and get it done.
• Businesses that must close must not be delayed any further.

What does “absolute zero” mean?

According to the report, the UK’s Climate Change Act would contain terms like net emissions, which means that emissions can continue at a reduced rate through carbon-reducing activities or the use of technology that emits less or zero emissions. The remaining emissions can be offset by planting trees or buying carbon credits from carbon offset companies to reach net emission.

However, absolute zero means zero emissions with no negative emissions options or meaningful “carbon offsets.” Absolute zero emissions also apply to emissions caused by purchasing, including imported goods, international flights, and shipping.

The report details what we can do as individuals and in the key sectors—road vehicles, rail, flying, shipping, heating, food, mining, construction, manufacturing, electricity, and fossil fuels—to reduce emissions from today to 2050.

It provides four timelines: 2020 to 2029, 2030 to 2049, 2050, and beyond 2050. It shows what incremental lifestyle changes are required and what emissions reductions will be achieved, reaching absolute zero by 2050.

Beyond 2050, new technologies that produce zero emissions will become more widely available and scalable.

As individuals, these significant actions include travelling shorter distances, stopping flying and travelling more by train or in electric cars, using heating less, electrifying boilers, lobbying for construction with half the material for twice as long, and reducing eating beef and lamb. Each action that we take to reduce emissions creates a ripple effect.

Reaching our absolute zero also requires us to use significantly less energy, even up to 60%, and the report shows several opportunities to achieve this.

Restraint is vital to achieving the absolute zero target, but it does not necessarily mean despair. Later, as innovation expands service delivery without emissions – the deployment of electric planes and nuclear-powered ships, application of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in mining, steel, and cement production, total electrification of food production and processing, etc.- the need for restraint will be relieved, and the activities that we enjoy and value can continue and expand.

To read the entire report, click the link below.