Carbon Neutrality

The achievement of net zero emissions of carbon dioxide by balancing carbon emissions with carbon removal. Carbon offsetting is a typical way of balancing emissions; however, the focus should be on reducing or avoiding emissions, thereby reducing the carbon footprint, rather than continuing with polluting emissions and essentially paying for the privilege of polluting. The similar term net zero typically has an emphasis on a more pro-active approach to reducing carbon (well all greenhouse gas) emissions.

The international standard PAS 2060 Specification for the demonstration of carbon neutrality (BSI) allows a specific subject, such as a product, organisation, project, building, event, etc. to be assessed for carbon neutrality using a four-stage process. Greenhouse gases are quantified by carbon accounting techniques of the Greenhouse Gas Corporate Protocol (https://ghgprotocol.org/corporate-standard), or ISO 14064-1 (Greenhouse gases — Part 1: Specification with guidance at the organization level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals), using Scope 1 direct emissions, Scope 2, indirect energy emissions, and as many Scope 3, other indirect emissions as practicable, along with evidence of carbon reductions (related to current and historic emissions) by producing a carbon footprint management plan, and certified offsets to arrive at a measure of carbon neutrality, which is then publicly disclosed (as either a commitment to carbon neutrality or achievement of carbon neutrality) for transparency purposes.

This is a relative concept in that very high emissions may be quantified for a particular subject and so long as reductions are evidenced thereafter, along with complying with other stages of the standard, then carbon neutrality can be achieved. An objective assessment of what would be expected from a ‘standard’ emissions scenario for a subject might actually be much less than that evidenced within a verified report, so a false impression may be given as to how ‘carbon neutral’ the verified subject really is.

Year on year reductions, whether in absolute and/or intensity values, are required to be demonstrated to evidence the progress and trends made towards reducing the negative impact of greenhouse gas emissions of the subject on the environment. The use of a carbon neutrality verification process provides a formal benchmark in helping to manage operational processes more efficiently and effectively, reduces the perception of greenwashing, improves the respectability and reputation of the managing organisation, offers potential competitive advantage and provides for a measure to benchmark with comparable and equivalent subjects within the same, or a contrasting, industry.