Light

Carbon Neutral

Definition

Being carbon neutral means achieving a balance between the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere and the amount removed or offset. It refers to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero, often through sustainable practices and investments.

Analogy

Imagine you have a piggy bank where you deposit money and take some out occasionally. If you want your piggy bank balance to stay at zero, every time you take money out, you need to put an equal amount back in. Similarly, being carbon neutral means making sure that for every unit of carbon emitted, an equal amount is removed or offset.

Related terms

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: These are gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere and contribute to climate change.

Sustainability: Sustainability involves meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Offset Projects: These projects aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions elsewhere, such as investing in renewable energy or reforestation efforts, in order to compensate for one's own emissions.