Carbon neutral 351661 225433125 2008-07-13T17:50:05Z Vashtihorvat 909076 Fixed bad page reference {{otheruses}} {{mergefrom|Climate neutral|Talk:Carbon neutral#Merger proposal|date=November 2007}} Being '''carbon neutral''', or '''carbon neutrality''', refers to neutral (meaning zero) total carbon release, brought about by balancing the amount of carbon released with the amount sequestered or offset. Various special interests attempt to promote a use of the term that refers to carbon reduction, which is clearly not neutral. In this more loose sense, it has two common uses: *It can refer to the practice of balancing [[carbon dioxide]] released into the atmosphere from burning [[fossil fuel]]s, with [[renewable energy]] that creates a similar amount of useful energy, so that the carbon emissions are compensated, or alternatively using only renewable energies that don't produce any carbon dioxide (this last is called a post-carbon economy).<ref>[http://www.eejitsguides.com/environment/carbon-neutral.html Carbon Neutral - What Does it Mean?], ''eejitsguides.com'', published 2006, accessed 2007-07-03</ref> * It is also used to describe the practice, criticized by some,<ref>[http://www.carbontradewatch.org/pubs/carbon_neutral_myth.pdf The Carbon Neutral Myth]</ref> of [[carbon offset]]ting, by paying others to remove or sequester 100% of the carbon dioxide emitted from the atmosphere<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/29/weekinreview/29revkin.html?ex=1335499200&en=d9e2407e4f1a20f0&ei=5124 Carbon-Neutral Is Hip, but Is It Green?], ''[[New York Times]]'', published 2007-04-29, accessed 2007-08-03</ref> – for example by [[forestation|planting trees]] – or by funding '[[carbon project]]s' that should lead to the prevention of future greenhouse gas emissions, or by buying [[carbon credit]]s to remove (or 'retire') them through [[emissions trading|carbon trading]]. These practices are often used in parallel, together with [[energy conservation]] measures to minimize energy use. The concept may be extended to include other [[greenhouse gas]]es measured in terms of their [[carbon dioxide equivalent|carbon dioxide equivalence]]. The phrase was the [[New Oxford American Dictionary]]’s Word Of The Year for [[2006]].<ref>[http://blog.oup.com/2006/11/carbon_neutral_/ Carbon Neutral: Oxford Word of the Year]</ref> ==Becoming carbon neutral== When an individual or an organization sets out to become carbon neutral it is usually achieved by combining the following three steps: *Limiting energy usage and emissions ** From transportation (walking, using [[bicycle]]s or [[public transport]], avoiding flying, using [[low-energy vehicle]]s). ** From buildings, equipment, animals and processes. *Obtaining [[electricity]] and other energy from a renewable energy source, either directly by generating it (installing [[Photovoltaics|solar panels]] on the roof for example) or by selecting an approved [[green energy]] provider, and by using low-carbon [[alternative fuel]]s such as [[sustainable biofuel]]s. *Offsetting the remaining emissions that cannot for the moment be avoided or generated from renewables in a responsible [[carbon project]], or by buying [[carbon credit]]s. Being carbon neutral is increasingly seen as good [[corporate social responsibility|corporate]] or state social responsibility and a growing list of corporations and states are announcing dates for when they intend to become fully neutral. Some corporate examples include [[Dell]],<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/26/AR2007092601805.html Dell to go 'carbon neutral' by late 2008]</ref> [[Google]],<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6768605.stm BBC NEWS | Technology |Google's drive for clean future]</ref><ref>[http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/carbon-neutrality-by-end-of-2007.html Official Google Blog: Carbon neutrality by end of 2007]</ref> [[HSBC]],<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4071503.stm BBC NEWS | Business |HSBC bank to go carbon neutral]</ref> [[ING Group]],<ref>[http://ceoroundtable.chinadaily.com.cn/cdrt/cdrt32/article4.html Climate Change and ING]</ref> [[PepsiCo]],<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/environment/2007-04-30-greenest-usat_N.htm PepsiCo takes top spot in global warming battle]</ref> and [[Tesco]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6276351.stm BBC NEWS | Business |Tesco boss unveils green pledges]</ref> Events such as the [[G8 Summit]]<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4614713.stm BBC NEWS |The G8 summit promises to be a "carbon-neutral" event]</ref> and organizations like the [[World Bank]]<ref>[http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=31240 GreenBiz News |World Bank Group Goes Carbon-Neutral]</ref> are also using offset schemes to become carbon neutral. Artists like [[The Rolling Stones]]<ref>[http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=25589 GreenBiz News |Rolling Stones Pledge Carbon-Neutral U.K. Tour]</ref> and [[Pink Floyd]]<ref>[http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=76033 prnewswire.co.uk: Pink Floyd breathe life into new forests]</ref> have made albums or tours carbon neutral. ==Direct and indirect emissions sources== To be considered carbon neutral, an organization must reduce its [[carbon footprint]] to zero. Determining what to include in the carbon footprint depends upon the organization and the standards they are following. Generally, direct emissions sources must be reduced and offset completely, while indirect emissions from purchased electricity can be reduced with renewable energy purchases. Direct emissions include all pollution from manufacturing, company owned vehicles and reimbursed travel, livestock and any other source that is directly controlled by the owner. Indirect emissions include all emissions that result from the use or purchase of a product. For instance, the direct emissions of an airline are all the jet fuel that is burned, while the indirect emissions include manufacture and disposal of airplanes, all the electricity used to operate the airline's office, and the daily emissions from employee travel to and from work. In this case, the power company has a direct emission of greenhouse gas, while the office that purchases it considers it an indirect emission. ==Simplification of carbon neutral standards and definitions== Before an agency can certify an organization or individual as carbon neutral, it is important to specify whether indirect emissions are included in the Carbon Footprint calculation.<ref>[http://standardcarbon.com/resources/?p=25] Carbon footprints will decrease]</ref> Most Voluntary Carbon neutral certifiers such as [http://www.standardcarbon.com Standard Carbon] in the US, require both direct and indirect sources to be reduced and offset. As an example, for an organization to be certified carbon neutral by [http://www.standardcarbon.com Standard Carbon], it must offset all direct and indirect emissions from travel by 1 lb CO2e per passenger mile, and all non-electricity direct emissions 100%.<ref>[http://www.standardcarbon.com/ecatalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1 Carbon Neutral Certification Guidelines]</ref> Indirect electrical purchases must be equalized either with offsets, or renewable energy purchase. This standard differs slightly from the widely used World Resource Institute and may be easier to calculate and apply. The World Resource Institute, in addition to publishing many tables and help aids for calculating carbon footprints, only requires direct emissions to be reduced and balanced for carbon neutral status, however there is adequate encouragement to include all emissions sources. With this accounting, there are essentially two levels of Carbon neutral: Either all direct and indirect emissions, or only direct emissions. Much of the disunity in carbon neutral standards can be attributed to the voluntary nature of carbon offseting and carbon neutrality. The concept of shared resources also reduces the volume of carbon a particular organization has to offset, with all upstream and downstream emissions the responsibility of other organizations or individuals. If all organizations and individuals were involved then this would not result in any double accounting. ==Carbon-neutral states == In July 2007, [[Vatican City]] became the first carbon neutral state in the world, following the politics of the Pope to eliminate [[global warming]]. The goal was reached through the donation of the [[Vatican Climate Forest]] in [[Hungary]]. The forest is to be sized to offset the year's carbon dioxide emissions.<ref>[http://www.physorg.com/news103554442.html The Vatican to go carbon neutral]</ref> The Central American nation of [[Costa Rica]] aims to be fully carbon neutral before 2030.<ref>[http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/42133/story.htm Planet Ark : Costa Rica Aims to Win "Carbon Neutral" Nation Race]</ref> In 2004, 46.7% of Costa Rica's [[primary energy]] came from renewable sources,<ref>Share of Total Primary Energy Supply in 2004, ''[[International Energy Agency]]'', published 2006, accessed 2007-08-06</ref> while 94% of its [[electricity]] was generated from [[hydroelectricity|hydroelectric power]], [[wind farm]]s and [[geothermal energy]] in 2006.<ref>[http://www.e2.org/jsp/controller?docId=13225#costarica President Aims for Carbon Neutrality], ''Environmental Entrepreneurs'', published 2007-06-28, accessed 2007-08-06</ref> A 3.5% tax on gasoline in the country is used for payments to compensate landowners for growing trees and protecting forests and its government is making further plans for reducing emissions from transport, farming and industry. [[Samsø]] island in Denmark is the largest carbon-neutral settlement on the planet, with a population of 4200, based on wind-generated electricity and biomass-based district heating. They currently generate extra wind power and export the electricity to compensate for petro-fueled vehicles. There are future hopes of using electric or biofuel vehicles.[http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/07/080707fa_fact_kolbert?currentPage=all] ==See also== {{EnergyPortal}} *[[Carbon offset]] *[[Carbon footprint]] *[[Cellulosic ethanol]] *[[Live Earth]] *[[Low carbon diet]] *[[Low-carbon economy]] *[[Reverb (non-profit)|Reverb]] *[[Zero-carbon building]] (carbon neutral buildings) ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Greenhouse gases]] [[Category:Carbon dioxide]] [[Category:Buzzwords]] [[Category:Carbon neutral products]] [[ar:محايدة الكربون]] [[ja:カーボンニュートラル]] [[zh:碳中和]]