All around the globe, nations are announcing their net zero strategies. What is net zero, and why is it so important? Net zero is balancing the emission and absorption of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. The ultimate goal of achieving net zero is keeping the global temperature under 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Since the industrial revolution, humans have burned fossil fuels which have sped up global warming. The Earth’s temperature has risen approximately 1°C in the past thirty years and is predicted to reach 1.5°C by 2050, if not earlier.
Despite the seemingly trivial number, its consequences will be more than catastrophic. The temperature will not rise equally in every region; the Arctic and inland areas will warm up more. Extreme weather like thunderstorms and high winds will become the norm. Some regions will experience serious droughts while others will suffer from floods. According to NASA, up to 50% of the human population will undergo a lack of water supply. Scientists predict there will be no turning back once Earth’s temperature surpasses 1.5°C. Some researchers say that after a 2°C increase, humankind cannot do anything to stop or even slow down climate change.
In order to keep it under 1.5°C, global greenhouse gas emissions must be cut in half by 2030 to reach net zero by 2050. Many nations have formed a coalition to work toward a common goal, announced specific roadmaps, developed green energy, and more. Then what can we do as individuals to support net zero plans? Every small action to reduce energy use in daily life can help, like using public transportation and turning off lights. Climate change is no longer a concept in science journals; it has become our future. Global warming is a crisis for humankind, not for planet Earth. In the course of four billion years, tertiary consumers like humans have never survived a dramatic change in Earth’s temperature. Humankind is facing a tipping point in its history, and every choice matters. It is time for everyone to take action.
| Chin Da-youn Editor