What is net zero?

Net zero is the term used when the volume of emissions released into the atmosphere by a country, company or specific activity is equivalent to the volume of emissions removed from the atmosphere by that country, company or activity. It means cutting carbon emissions generated to the same amount as can be removed by the same actor or activity so that overall zero emissions are added to the atmosphere. 

Why is net zero an important goal?

Growing carbon emissions play a central role in climate change . And the science couldn’t be clearer: we are facing a climate crisis that threatens the future of life on our planet, with severe impacts already being suffered across the world. The average global temperature has already increased by 1C, and global temperatures passed the critical 1.5C milestone for the first time in 2024. Warming above 1.5°C risks further sea level rise, extreme weather, biodiversity loss and species extinction, as well as food scarcity, worsening health and poverty for millions of people worldwide. Reducing carbon emissions is critical to tackling the climate crisis.

How can net zero be achieved? 

Achieving net zero  requires widespread, systemic change. It relies on a move away from fossil fuels - oil, gas and coal - that pollute the earth and threaten people and the planet. That’s why we use the law to challenge governments and corporations who continue to support and invest in fossil fuels and campaign for policies that can help us achieve net zero.

ClientEarth and net zero 

We took the UK government to court over their inadequate Net Zero Strategy and won - the government has now published an updated climate change plan.  

We find new ways to use the law to challenge polluting plants. We’re using a never-before-used section of Polish civil law to challenge Europe’s biggest coal plant, Bełchatów. In the UK, we took the government to court over plans to build Europe’s biggest gas plant.

We work with investors to support fossil fuel companies to cut emissions and align their businesses with the Paris Agreement. We put pressure on governments to move away from coal and speed up the transition to cleaner energy. Since we began, fifteen governments in the EU have either moved beyond coal or announced a coal phase-out.

In Poland, we are taking legal action to block the planned Złoczew mine, which would otherwise guarantee mega-plant Bełchatów several more years of survival. In Bulgaria, we are supporting a farmer to prevent expansion of a mine that would see his family’s land taken away from him. And in Germany, we are working with villagers on a campaign to block the expansion of the already colossal Garzweiler mine.