Climate neutrality
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is always taken into account when it comes to combating climate change.
Becoming ‘climate neutral’ means reducing greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible, but it also means compensating for any remaining emissions. This can be done by carbon sequestration, i.e. by removing carbon from the atmosphere, or by offsetting measures, which typically involve supporting climate-oriented projects.
All economic sectors can and must contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For example, industry needs to continue modernizing and less polluting. The aviation and maritime sectors, which are among the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions, should become more energy efficient and shift towards alternative, greener fuels.
To reduce emissions from energy-intensive industries, the EU has set up an emissions trading system, which in its core is a market for carbon permits establishing the amount of emissions which power stations, industrial plants and airlines can release into the atmosphere. Permit levels are gradually reduced to cut the emissions of the participating industries.
People, as consumers, can also reduce their environmental footprint through their own behaviour and choices.
Despite overall reduction efforts, some emissions will be unavoidable. So, how to neutralize the remaining emissions? The oceans, soil and forests absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – and, that is the most effective way to compensate emissions.
