Relying on the promise of Net Zero is a dangerous proposition

– Premise of net zero is deceptively simple and it deceived experienced climate scientists.
– We can’t rely on technological innovations to save us.

This excerpt from this article entitled “Climate scientists: concept of net zero is a dangerous trap” from “The Conversation” is sobering:

The current consensus is that if we deploy these and other so-called “carbon dioxide removal” techniques at the same time as reducing our burning of fossil fuels, we can more rapidly halt global warming. Hopefully around the middle of this century we will achieve “net zero”. This is the point at which any residual emissions of greenhouse gases are balanced by technologies removing them from the atmosphere.

This is a great idea, in principle. Unfortunately, in practice it helps perpetuate a belief in technological salvation and diminishes the sense of urgency surrounding the need to curb emissions now.

We have arrived at the painful realisation that the idea of net zero has licensed a recklessly cavalier “burn now, pay later” approach which has seen carbon emissions continue to soar. It has also hastened the destruction of the natural world by increasing deforestation today, and greatly increases the risk of further devastation in the future.

The article goes on to explain how we’ve gotten here from the 1980s – and how even experienced climate scientists can be deceived by the promise of net zero. Check the piece out!