Do you feel a bit lost when people refer to certain environmental sustainability topics and aren't sure where to start when it comes to learning more? Sustainability 101 is a blog series that you can turn to for information about different environmental terms that may come up at work, during discussions with friends, and even at your annual holiday gathering.

"It's possible to reach net-zero carbon emissions. Here's how"¹

"UN tells governments to 'fast forward' net zero targets"²

These are just a few of many headlines from 2023 so far that center around the concept of "net zero." You may hear the phrase frequently in the context of climate change and global warming, but do you know the intricacies behind it?

According to the United Nations (UN) Climate Action website, net zero "means cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to as close to zero as possible, with any remaining emissions re-absorbed from the atmosphere, by oceans and forests for instance."

Similarly, the World Resources Institute (WRI) says net zero "will be achieved when all emissions released by human activities are counterbalanced by removing carbon from the atmosphere in a process known as carbon removal."

Simply put, it is a state where emissions are balanced with an equal amount of GHG removal.

Why has net zero become such a commonly used term?Because our future depends on it. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), "climate-related risks to health, livelihoods, food security, water supply, human security, and economic growth are projected to increase with global warming of 1.5