Why Must We Achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2050?

Why Must We Achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2050? The Stakes of Carbon Neutrality 2050

Definition of Global Carbon Neutrality

Global carbon neutrality is the goal of achieving a balance between greenhouse gas emissions produced by human activities and the Earth's ability to absorb these emissions. This means that emissions must be minimized and offset by measures aimed at capturing and storing some of them, in order not to disturb the natural balance of the Earth's climate.

‍

Achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050: A Crucial Necessity

Carbon neutrality is considered a crucial goal to limit the negative impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels, more frequent and intense storms, and the deterioration of living conditions for animal and plant species. The target for 2050 is linked to the Paris Climate Agreement, which aims to limit the increase in the planet's average temperature to less than 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. Beyond 2050, achieving this goal will likely be unattainable.

Limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius is considered important to avoid potentially catastrophic impacts on the environment and human life. According to scientists, warming above 2 degrees could lead to rising sea levels, extreme heatwaves, shortages of water and food, as well as the loss of numerous animal and plant species.

The Benefits of Aiming for Carbon Neutrality by 2050

Carbon Neutrality and Combating Climate Change

‍There is clearly a close link between carbon neutrality and the fight against climate change. Indeed, carbon neutrality aims to achieve a balance between greenhouse gas emissions produced by human activities and the Earth's ability to absorb these emissions.

‍

Carbon Neutrality and the Protection of the Environment and Biodiversity

Global warming has negative impacts on biodiversity, disrupting ecosystems and affecting the animal and plant species dependent on them. These impacts can manifest in various ways, for example:

• Rising sea levels can cause coastal erosion and the submersion of coastal areas, leading to the loss of habitats for the animal and plant species that inhabit these areas.
• More frequent and intense storms can damage ecosystems and plant and animal species by uprooting trees, flooding wetlands, and causing the death of many animals.
• Increasing temperatures can affect the reproduction and survival of animal and plant species by altering their behaviors and disrupting relationships between species. For instance, the flowering of plants may occur earlier or later than usual, which can disrupt the life cycles of animal species that rely on these plants for food.

‍

Impact of Carbon Neutrality on Public Health Improvement

There are numerous reasons why combating climate change can enhance public health, including:

• Reduction of Air Pollution: Emissions are primarily caused by the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas. This combustion produces atmospheric pollutants like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particles, which can have detrimental effects on human health.
• Fewer Respiratory Diseases: Atmospheric pollutants caused by greenhouse gas emissions can lead to respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema. By combating global warming, we can reduce air pollution and lower the risks of these respiratory diseases.
• Fewer Cardiovascular Diseases: Pollutants from emissions can also cause cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarctions and strokes.

Furthermore, transitioning to a low-carbon economy can also have positive effects on public health by promoting the development of sustainable agriculture and reducing risks associated with the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. This can contribute to improving the quality of the food produced and reduce health risks for humans.

Economic Opportunities for Green Industries Through Carbon Neutrality

The transition to a low-carbon economy can offer numerous economic opportunities for green industries, including:

• Development of Renewable Energies: The demand for renewable energies, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, is constantly growing. This can accelerate their development and offer new investment opportunities in these sectors.
• Development of Clean Technologies: Achieving carbon neutrality involves the implementation of clean technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This can provide new opportunities for industries that develop these technologies, such as electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and carbon capture and storage technologies.
• Development of the Circular Economy: Carbon neutrality also involves more efficient use of natural resources, promoting the circular economy, and encouraging the reuse and recycling of raw materials. This can offer new opportunities for industries engaged in this approach, such as the recovery and recycling industry, synthetic biology industry, and waste valorization industry.

International Efforts to Achieve Carbon Neutrality

Ongoing International Initiatives to Achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2050

The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), an international treaty aimed at combating global warming and mitigating its impacts. The COP meets annually to assess progress in implementing the Convention and to adopt decisions on actions to be taken to achieve the treaty's objectives.

The COP consists of all State Parties to the Convention, which are national governments that have ratified the treaty. Each State has an equal vote, allowing each country to actively participate in the decisions made during the COP.

The first COP took place in 1995 in Berlin, Germany. Since then, COP meetings have been held annually in different countries, allowing all State Parties to participate in this significant event. COP 21, held in Paris in 2015, led to the Paris Climate Agreement. Signed in 2015 by 195 countries, the Paris Agreement aims to limit the increase in the planet's average temperature to less than 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels, and to continue efforts to limit this increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The agreement includes voluntary commitments by countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and mechanisms to monitor and strengthen these commitments.

Among other international initiatives is the Powering Past Coal Alliance. Launched in 2017 by Canada and the United Kingdom, the Powering Past Coal Alliance aims to accelerate the transition to clean energy and reduce emissions related to electricity production from coal. The alliance currently has more than 70 members, including governments, businesses, and civil society organizations.

The European Parliament's Roadmap

The European Parliament has adopted a roadmap to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, implementing a series of measures aimed at reducing the European Union's (EU) greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy. This roadmap includes:

• The adoption of a legally binding target to reduce EU greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.
• The adoption of measures to reduce emissions across all sectors of the economy, including energy, transport, agriculture, and construction.
• The adoption of measures to encourage the use of renewable energies and to support research and innovation in clean technologies.
• The adoption of measures to support the implementation of carbon neutrality in EU member states, by providing financial and technical assistance to countries most vulnerable to the impacts of global warming.

National Low Carbon Strategy (SNBC) and Carbon Neutrality in France by 2050

The National Low Carbon Strategy to achieve carbon neutrality in France is based on three main pillars:

1. Reduction of GHG Emissions: The strategy aims to reduce France's emissions by 40% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels, and by 100% by 2050. This will involve implementing measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors of the economy, including energy, transport, agriculture, and construction.
2. Transition to Renewable Energies: The strategy seeks to develop renewable energies in France and to reduce dependence on coal, oil, and natural gas. This will involve implementing measures to encourage the use of renewable energies, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, as well as research and innovation in clean technologies.
3. Adaptation to the Impacts of Climate Change: The strategy also aims to adapt France to the impacts of global warming, by implementing measures to mitigate the effects of storms, floods, and droughts, which can be exacerbated by climate change. This will involve implementing measures to strengthen the resilience of communities and ecosystems to the effects of climate change.

Carbon Sinks: A Key Player

Achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 involves reducing greenhouse gas emissions in such a way that they are offset by carbon sinks. This means that emissions must be reduced to a level that allows carbon sinks to store the entirety of CO2 emissions.

Carbon sinks can be classified into two broad categories: natural carbon sinks and artificial carbon sinks.

• Natural Carbon Sinks: These are natural ecosystems that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in a sustainable way. Forests, oceans, and agricultural soils are examples of natural carbon sinks.
• Artificial Carbon Sinks: These are ecosystems created by humans that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it sustainably. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) systems are included in this category. CCS involves capturing CO2 emitted by power plants, factories, or vehicles, and then storing it safely in underground or underwater reservoirs.

Challenges to Achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050

The 3 challenges

The large-scale implementation of carbon neutrality presents several challenges, including:

1. Technological Challenge: Achieving carbon neutrality involves the development and implementation of technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, develop renewable energies, and capture and store carbon. These technologies are still under development, and it is crucial to continue investing in research and innovation to enhance them.
2. Economic Challenge: Transitioning to a low-carbon economy requires significant investments in renewable energies, carbon capture and storage, and low-emission materials. These investments can be costly, and finding funding sources to support them is essential.
3. Political Challenge: Implementing carbon neutrality on a large scale requires the adoption of strong policies to reduce emissions and encourage the transition to a low-carbon economy. This can be challenging, especially in a context of economic pressure and political opposition.

Technological Challenges to Achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050

Achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 poses significant technological challenges, and it is important to recognize the main challenges involved. Here are the three main technological challenges:

1. Development of Renewable Energies: Transitioning to a low-carbon economy requires significant development of renewable energies, such as solar power, wind energy, and hydroelectric power. This poses technological challenges in increasing electricity production capacity from these energy sources, improving the efficiency of these technologies, and reducing their cost.
2. Development of Low-Carbon Footprint Materials: The transition to a low-carbon economy also involves the development of low-carbon emission materials, such as bio-based plastics, low-emission building materials, and low-emission batteries. This presents technological challenges in increasing the production of these materials, improving their quality and performance, and reducing their cost.
3. Implementation of Carbon Capture and Storage: Carbon capture and storage (CCS) are key technologies for reducing emissions in sectors that are difficult to decarbonize, such as industry and transportation. This poses technological challenges in efficiently capturing carbon dioxide, safely transporting it to storage reservoirs, and ensuring that CO2 is stored in a sustainable manner.

Economic Obstacles to Achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050

Achieving carbon neutrality poses a significant economic challenge for both governments and businesses, and it is crucial to recognize the main obstacles to this goal. Here are the three main economic obstacles:

1. Cost of Transitioning to a Low-Carbon Economy: Transitioning to a low-carbon economy requires substantial investments in renewable energies, carbon capture and storage, and low-emission materials. These investments can be costly for both the state and businesses, and it is vital to find funding sources to support them.
2. Economic Impact of Reducing the Carbon Footprint on Businesses: Particularly for those reliant on fossil fuels. It is important to find solutions to mitigate this economic impact and to support these sectors in their transition to a low-carbon economy.
3. Risk of Competitive Distortion for Businesses: The transition to a low-carbon economy can create competitive distortions between countries that implement carbon footprint reduction policies and those that do not. It is crucial to find solutions to prevent these competitive distortions, for example, by adopting carbon pricing policies at an international level.

Political Challenges to Achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050

Achieving carbon neutrality presents a significant political challenge, and it is essential to recognize the main obstacles to this goal:

1. Opposition from Businesses in Fossil Fuel-Dependent Economic Sectors: The transition to a low-carbon economy can be perceived as a threat by sectors dependent on fossil fuels, such as oil, coal, and natural gas. Businesses may oppose greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction policies, citing economic considerations and employment concerns.
2. Opposition from Governments Reluctant to Implement GHG Reduction Policies: Some nations may oppose these policies, citing economic considerations, employment fears, or geopolitical concerns.
3. Lack of Political Leadership to Support the Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy: The transition to a low-carbon economy requires strong political leadership to guide the necessary changes and overcome economic and political barriers. Without such leadership, it may be difficult to implement GHG reduction policies on a scale large enough to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality.

Conclusion: A Very Complex... but Vital Issue

It is crucial to unite all stakeholders around this goal to achieve it. To conclude, here are two key points for success:

1. Highlight the Benefits for Each Stakeholder: It is important to show different stakeholders how reducing GHG emissions can benefit each of them. For example, governments can highlight the benefits to public health and the environment, businesses can showcase the economic opportunities offered by renewable energies and low-emission technologies, and citizens can emphasize the advantages for their own quality of life.
2. Engage Stakeholders in the Decision-Making Process: It is important to allow different stakeholders to participate in the decision-making process for implementing carbon neutrality by 2050. This can be done by organizing public consultations, creating working groups composed of representatives from various stakeholders, such as the Citizen's Convention for Climate, for example.