Is Aiming For “Net” Zero carbon reductions enough. Should we rather be aiming at carbon zero?

In this Podcast when we discuss the student researcher Katie English whether aiming for net zero to tackle climate change is enough or whether we need to aim for carbon zero,

Many local authorities and government’s Climate Action plant are largely based on trying to achieve carbon net zero at a target date like 2030 or beyond.

There has been considerable criticism of net zero targeting both nationally and globally because aiming for net zero means an organisation can continue to emit greenhouse gases as long it offsets this by developing carbon sinks to soak up emissions. James Hansen the world famous climate scientist has called this monkey business because offsetting is dubious in its effectiveness and avoids the real issue of reducing organisational emissions.

Many organisations are now developing carbon zero targets and not net carbon targets. Richard Murphy the economist working with the eminent group that developed the Green New Deal has argued that it is carbon zero that is vital and not net zero.

So in this Podcast we will will discuss with research student Katie English this issue and the debate raging around net zero targeting and to assess the Government & Council’s plans in the light of this debate.  We will be looking at one North London Council as a case study of this.

Katie has recently done a Master’s Dissertation on the resistance to the Edmonton incinerator and its impact on public health and we did a webinar with her on this.