Net Zero

 Net Zero

Net zero is a term used to describe the balance between greenhouse gas emissions and their removal from the atmosphere. Achieving net zero emissions is crucial to limit the effects of climate change and keep global temperatures from rising above 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as outlined in the Paris Agreement.

To reach net zero emissions, countries, businesses, and individuals must reduce their greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible and offset any remaining emissions through various means such as carbon capture and storage, reforestation, or investing in renewable energy projects.

Net zero emissions can be achieved through a variety of strategies, such as energy efficiency, electrification of transportation and buildings, decarbonization of the electricity sector, and transitioning to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal.

The need for net zero

Climate change is a global crisis that poses significant risks to human health, the economy, and the environment. Rising temperatures, sea level rise, extreme weather events, and other effects of climate change threaten to destabilize ecosystems and disrupt communities.

To address these challenges, the global community must rapidly transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy. Achieving net zero emissions is a crucial step in this process, as it is the only way to limit the most severe impacts of climate change.

The path towards net zero

The path to net zero emissions involves reducing greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible through a variety of strategies, including

Energy efficiency: Energy efficiency measures such as insulation, efficient lighting, and efficient appliances can help reduce energy consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Electrification of transportation and buildings: Electrifying transportation and buildings through the use of electric vehicles and heat pumps can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing fossil fuels with clean electricity.

Decarbonization of the electricity sector: Transitioning to renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal can decarbonize the electricity sector and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon capture and storage: Carbon capture and storage technologies can capture carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes and store them underground, preventing them from entering the atmosphere.

Afforestation and reforestation: Planting trees and restoring forests can help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in biomass.

Offset programs: Offsets can be used to compensate for remaining emissions that cannot be eliminated through other means. Offsets include carbon credits from renewable energy projects, reforestation, and carbon capture and storage.

Challenges to achieving net zero

Achieving net zero emissions is a complex and challenging process that requires significant changes in the way we produce and consume energy. Some of the challenges to achieving net zero emissions include:

Cost: Transitioning to a low-carbon economy requires significant investment in renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, and other technologies. The cost of these investments can be a barrier for many countries and businesses.

Infrastructure: Building the infrastructure needed to support a low-carbon economy, such as renewable energy facilities, electric vehicle charging stations, and carbon capture and storage facilities, requires significant investment and planning.

Policy: Government policies play a crucial role in facilitating the transition to a low-carbon economy. Policies such as carbon pricing, renewable energy mandates, and energy efficiency standards can help drive the transition to net zero emissions.

Technology: Developing and deploying new technologies such as carbon capture and storage, advanced nuclear power, and low-carbon transportation is crucial to achieving net zero emissions. However, these technologies are still in the early stages of development and may face technological, regulatory, and financial barriers to deployment.

Benefits of Net zero

Climate stability: The primary benefit of achieving net zero emissions is the stabilization of the Earth's climate. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, we can avoid the worst impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events, sea level rise, and loss of biodiversity.

Improved air quality: Transitioning to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar can help reduce air pollution, which is a major public health concern. Fossil fuels are a significant source of air pollution, and transitioning away from them can improve air quality and reduce respiratory illnesses.

Job creation: The transition to a low-carbon economy can create new job opportunities in industries such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, and green transportation. These industries are expected to grow significantly in the coming decades, creating new employment opportunities for people around the world.

Energy security: Relying on renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal can help increase energy security by reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Renewable energy sources are more distributed and can be harnessed almost anywhere, reducing the risk of supply disruptions.

Economic benefits: The transition to a low-carbon economy can provide significant economic benefits, including cost savings from energy efficiency measures, job creation, and increased investment in renewable energy and other low-carbon technologies.

Improved health outcomes: By reducing air pollution and promoting active transportation options such as walking and cycling, the transition to a low-carbon economy can improve public health outcomes and reduce the incidence of chronic diseases.

Ocean Acidification

 

Ocean and its pH level

The ocean is the body of salt water that covers approximately 70.8% of the surface of Earth and contains 97% of earth's water. The overall pH of the ocean is 8.1 which is basic or alkaline in nature. According to pH scale ,the pH number less than 7 is acidic and the pH number greater than 7 is basic in nature. 

Ocean Acidification

Ocean acidification is the process by which a massive amount of carbon dioxide is absorbed by the ocean which reduces the water’s pH levels, thus making it more acidic in the process. Ocean acidification reduces the amount of carbonate which is necessary for the maintenance of seawater. The ocean acidification makes it difficult for marine animals such as planktons and corlas to form shells and skeletons, thus affecting the marine food web to a great extent.

Due to climate change, the ocean is absorbing more carbon dioxide than ever and when this happens it dissolves and reacts with water creating carbonic acid. Nearly 30% of the overall carbon emission will be stored in the ocean since it cover 70% of the total body. In 2021 we had emitted 37.12 billion tons of carbon into the atmosphere in that 11.14 billion ton was captured only by ocean. The Ocean is a carbon sink , which means that it absorbs more carbon than it releases 25% of human released carbon dioxide is absorbed by the ocean Aquatic organisms turns them to calcium carbonate- when the aquatic organisms die, their bodies decay and release the carbon which sinks into the deep ocean where it is stored for million of years. Some carbon stays as gas, it dissolves and sinks down. It may travel around the glove in the deep sea but it eventually rises, release the carbon di oxide.

Over time this can cause our oceans incredibly acidic. According to survey if this carbon emission continuous, In the year 2100 all aquatic animals and marine plants will be corroded via the acids. There are nearly 2,30,000 species in the ocean, this was just we found . Scientists estimated that there are 2 million more species yet to discover. For sharks , whales and some other gigantic animals the skin is hard, although it will go extinct. Marine species will not adapt the scenario. This is happened several million years back , there were Mass extinction begins.

Once the ocean acidified, then slowly corrosion and erosion of building will occur in land. The hurricane will be more powerful. During the flood, we may have the chance to visualize stagnant acids in front of our house. Even there are more possible for the Acid rain. If acid becomes more acidity day by day , then the ground surface gets broken and steam of acids comes from the ground. Due to inexistent of marine species, human food chain might affected. 

Impact on species

Ocean acidification is already impacting many ocean species, especially organisms like oysters and corals that make hard shells and skeletons by combining calcium and carbonate from seawater. However, as ocean acidification increases, available carbonate ions (CO32-) bond with excess hydrogen, resulting in fewer carbonate ions available for calcifying organisms to build and maintain their shells, skeletons, and other calcium carbonate structures. If the pH gets too low, shells and skeletons can even begin to dissolve.

Changes in ocean chemistry can affect the behavior of non-calcifying organisms as well. The ability of some fish, like clownfish, to detect predators is decreased in more acidic waters. Studies have shown that decreased pH levels also affect the ability of larval clown fishoffsite link to locate suitable habitat. When these organisms are at risk, the entire food web may also be at risk.

While some species will be harmed by ocean acidification, algae and seagrasses may benefit from higher CO2 conditions in the ocean, as they require CO2 for photosynthesis just like plants on land.