Net Zero: What Is It and How Do We Get There?

It is no secret for anyone that our planet is facing serious challenges. The vast majority of climate scientists agree that unless humanity makes changes, rising temperatures in our atmosphere will become permanent — a change that will result in tremendous hardship worldwide.

Many countries have committed to reaching “net zero” in the coming decade as part of an effort to turn the tide of climate change. But what exactly does this phrase mean? And is achieving that zero-emissions even possible?

What is Net Zero?

Simply put, net zero refers to the number of carbon emissions a country, state, home, or place emits into the air each year. While it isn’t possible to never emit CO2 (after all, humans exhale carbon dioxide), a place can decrease carbon consumption and implement methods to absorb carbon dioxide before it goes into the atmosphere — hence the term “net zero.”

Ways to Reach Our Goal

There is no single method to get us there, but instead, President Biden hopes to implement a variety of changes that can reduce the nation’s carbon footprint. He proposed a climate policy that will move the United States towards achieving net zero by 2050. Here are just a few of the possible ways to help the U.S. reach net zero emissions.

Decarbonize Industry

The majority of industries in the United States (and around the world) rely on carbon to complete their business. Everything from running factories to transporting goods via truck, plane, or ship uses some sort of fossil fuel — and these fossil fuels are pumping tons of carbon dioxide into the air. Lawmakers will need to enact policies that encourage the use of green energy and make renewables as affordable and efficient as the traditional methods.

Increase Electric Vehicle Usage

According to a study from Princeton University, the United States needs to put 50 million more electric cars on the road (in place of gas vehicles) by 2030 to turn the tide of climate change. This may seem like a big ask, as electric cars are expensive, and many Americans don’t have the funds to purchase a new car. However, if the government offers subsidies to help lower the cost of an electric car, the nation could reach this goal.

Invest in Green Housing

Finally, one great way to lower carbon emissions on a massive scale is to invest in green housing. Almost 40% of all the energy used worldwide is related to homebuilding — not to mention the emissions generated by gas-powered appliances. Investing in green building practices and opting for all-electric homes can make a significant dent in the amount of CO2 entering the atmosphere each year.

Admittedly, these steps on their own will not be enough to combat the effects of climate change. However, if nations implement these changes in addition to other policy changes, humans might be able to prevent the long-term effects of rising temperatures across the globe.

Doing Our Part

This is obviously a challenge that is not easy to overcome. But we can all do our part to reduce our carbon footprint and make efforts toward improving the planet. A couple ways Blue Mountain Communities is addressing this is by building electric-only homes at Revere in Rescue and including solar panel systems on all homes at Carnelian in Granite Bay.