Net zero targets: Realistic or impossible?

In 2019, the United Kingdom became the first major economy to legislate a net-zero emissions target by 2050. Since then, more than 140 countries, representing around 90% of global emissions, have made similar commitments (UNEP, 2022). On paper, the world appears united against the climate crisis. While the goal sounds simple, achieving this balance presents serious political, technological and ethical challenges. As climate scientist Kevin Anderson puts it: “Net zero has become a smokescreen to delay real action.”

UNREALISTIC GOALS One of the main criticisms of these targets is the over-reliance on negative emissions technologies, particularly carbon capture and storage (CCS) and Direct Air Capture. According to a 2021 report by Climate Action Tracker, many countries’ net zero commitments lack short-term implementation plans and are largely based on “unrealistic levels of carbon removal”. These technologies may not be deployed at the scale and speed required. The IPCC (2023) warned that “over-reliance on carbon removal technologies carries significant risks and uncertainties”. In other words, net zero plans often appear to do little more than delay action. IT SEEMS FAR FROM TRANSPARENCY Another area of ​​concern is the prevalence of carbon offsets. Many companies and governments seek to prove they are “carbon neutral” by investing in reforestation or clean energy projects elsewhere. But these shallow practices have been heavily criticized for externalizing responsibility and creating a false sense of progress. Carbon offsets often lack transparency, oversight and permanence. According to a 2023 study by The Guardian, more than 90% of rainforest offsets awarded by the world’s largest carbon offset certifier were likely “phantom credits” and provided no real climate benefits. CLIMATE JUSTICE AND THE GLOBAL GAP Rich countries, which have historical responsibility for the climate crisis, often advocate net-zero strategies without challenging their consumption habits and providing adequate funding or technology transfer to developing countries. Meanwhile, vulnerable communities in the Global South are already facing sea level rise, drought, and extreme heat. According to the Climate Equity Monitor (2022), many developing countries’ net-zero commitments are “conditional,” contingent on climate finance and fair burden sharing. Without these elements, net-zero targets could become a geopolitical bargaining chip rather than a tool for cooperation. ATTAINABLE GOALS Net zero targets are not inherently flawed. They can be a valuable guideline when supported by concrete measures such as transparent interim targets, annual carbon budgets and fossil fuel phase-out. Perhaps the real question is not when we declare net zero targets, but what structural changes we make to get there. Without tangible progress in key areas such as the energy transition, transport infrastructure, agricultural policies and consumption habits, net zero will remain a stall for time. As climate activist Greta Thunberg has often said: “The house is on fire.” Net zero must therefore be an emergency plan for today, not a fire escape for the future.