Net zero is the state in which a company’s, country’s or process’s greenhouse gas emissions are cut to the lowest technically feasible level, and whatever residual emissions remain are removed from the atmosphere through capture or removal projects, not simply offset.
Why it matters: net zero is a stricter standard than “carbon neutral”, because it requires real removal of the residual instead of avoidance-based offsetting, and it’s the target most regulations and frameworks (like the SBTi) now require.