[Net Zero ⓒESG.ONL]
'Net Zero' refers to a state in which greenhouse gas emissions and absorptions are balanced, resulting in net emissions of zero. Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, 196 countries committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030 and achieving Net Zero by 2050 — establishing these as shared international goals. Net Zero is thus an internationally agreed target set as part of broader efforts to halt the increase in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations caused by human activity and the resulting climate change.
The greenhouse gases subject to reduction include the six major gases defined under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and others. For this reason, some view Net Zero as a broader concept than carbon neutrality, which typically focuses on carbon dioxide alone.
South Korea is currently working toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The challenges are significant. Reaching Net Zero requires systemic national and institutional changes — including a transition away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy sources. Investment in and development of renewable energy — including solar thermal and photovoltaic energy, wind, hydropower, marine energy, biomass, and waste-to-energy — is also essential. Equally important is protecting forests, seaweed habitats, and wetland ecosystems to maintain and enhance the carbon absorption and storage capacity of natural ecosystems.
Net Zero is thus emerging as a central strategy for humanity's sustainable coexistence — a foundational commitment to building a sustainable future.
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