On 27 May, a law called the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA) was passed, which is part of the Green Deal industrial plan. This law aims to increase the EU's production capacity for the technologies needed to achieve climate neutrality. These are technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, heat pumps, batteries, electrolyzers and nuclear technologies, including key components such as photovoltaic cells and wind turbine blades.

The NZIA aims for the EU to cover at least 40 % of its annual needs in the area of introducing strategic technologies with a zero carbon footprint by 2030. This target value is intended to provide predictability, certainty and long-term signals for producers and investors, which will allow monitoring the progress of achieving the targets. The law also sets a target of an annual injection capacity of 50 million tonnes of CO2 into geological storage in the EU by 2030, which will support carbon capture and storage and increase the availability of CO2 storage in Europe.

The new legislation improves the conditions for investments in technologies with a zero carbon footprint by simplifying and speeding up permitting processes, reducing administrative burdens and facilitating access to markets. Public authorities will have to take into account criteria such as sustainability and resilience in clean technology projects and auctions for the deployment of renewable energy.

The law also includes measures to support education, training and innovation through the establishment of Net-Zero Industry Academies. Regulatory sandboxes will be created to allow for flexible regulatory conditions to test innovative technologies with a zero carbon footprint. The Net-Zero Europe platform will serve as a central coordination center where the Commission and EU countries can discuss, exchange information and receive input from stakeholders. (More on ec.europa.eu)

Carbon neutrality, a term increasingly at the center of climate change and sustainability debates, refers to a state in which the amount of carbon emitted is balanced (more…)

EU regions and cities are urging the European Union to implement ambitious Green Deal policies to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, create prosperous economies and ensure prosperity within planetary boundaries, leaving no one and no place behind. A report Regions and cities shape the European Green Deal 2.0 , which outlines 29 key recommendations for the next EU legislative mandate, was presented by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on May 29 in the presence of the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič. (More on cor.europa.eu)

Last month, G7 leaders declared their commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest. Closer to home, the Albanian government recently introduced legislation to establish a net-zero economy office, promising to catalyze investment in clean energy technologies in an effort to reach net-zero. Commitments to reach net-zero emissions in the coming decades have multiplied since the 2021 United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, when governments declared their commitments to meet the Paris Agreement's goal of keeping global warming below 1.5°C. But what exactly is "net zero" and where did the concept come from? (more on co2news.sk)

To avoid the worst consequences of climate change, the world must balance carbon emissions with carbon stocks by 2050. But even if we reach the goal, a lot depends on how much we release in the meantime. Ten years ago, the term "net zero" was arcane jargon. Today, it is a key target in the fight against climate change and a well-known point of discussion around the world.

The concept is simple. In words Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) : "Net zero emissions of carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) are achieved when anthropogenic CO2 emissions are globally balanced by anthropogenic CO removal ₂ during a certain period. (James Dinneen, more at newscientist.com)

The urgency and scale of the climate crisis, combined with the need for a swift and effective global response, have put reducing greenhouse gas emissions firmly at the top of the agenda for governments, businesses and societies. There is general agreement that large-scale, globally coordinated action is needed to achieve net zero goals and meet broader climate and sustainability commitments.

However, the sheer complexity and scale of the challenge ahead, along with the sheer number of stakeholders, currently means there is no consensus on how best to get there. As an integral part of the global quality infrastructure, the accreditation will be instrumental in promoting the adoption of clearer, more robust, fair and efficient zero-purity transition pathways worldwide. (Maria Varbeva-Daley, more at environmentjournal.online)

The Commission is planning a path to achieving the goal of achieving climate neutrality in the European Union by 2050. It recommends 90 % reductions in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 compared to 1990 levels, which is in line with the latest scientific advice and the EU's commitments under the Paris Agreement.

In order to achieve the reduction target of 90 % by 2040, the following measures will be necessary:

• fully implement existing EU laws to reduce emissions by at least 55 % by 2030
• decarbonize the industry by relying on existing strengths such as wind power, hydropower and electrolyzers. To step up this action, the Commission has put forward new measures to manage carbon emissions in industry in the EU, which will invest in technologies that can capture, store and reuse carbon.
• increase domestic production in growing sectors such as batteries, electric vehicles, heat pumps, solar cells and others
• preserve justice, solidarity and social policies at the heart of the transition and help vulnerable citizens, regions, businesses and workers through instruments such as the Social Climate Fund and the Just Transition Fund
• lead open dialogue with all stakeholders, including farmers, businesses, social partners and citizens

(More on commission.europa.eu)

Cities' demand for energy, resources and land will grow globally in the coming decades as urban populations continue to grow rapidly, yet only a fraction of the world's cities have developed targets and strategies for moving to net zero emissions.

That's the stark warning in a major new report produced by the International Energy Agency (IEA) for the G7, which says reducing urban emissions is "essential" for the world to meet its energy and climate targets. He adds that digital solutions that can manage energy consumption patterns and optimize urban infrastructure can play a significant role in reducing emissions from cities. (Michael Holder, more at businessgreen.com)

Green City Times has produced a guide to the climate change mitigation policies and strategies that must be implemented to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. In order to take effective climate action, all nations, states and countries around the world must meet the climate targets set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions were first outlined in the Paris Climate Agreement. The GHG reduction targets have since become more ambitious, so that they now include net zero and carbon neutrality targets. (More on greencitytimes.com)

Recently received revision  guidelines on the energy efficiency of buildings  supports the EU's wider effort to achieve a carbon-neutral economy while improving people's quality of life, reducing household and business energy bills, strengthening the building ecosystem and contributing to Europe's energy independence. in accordance with the REPowerEU plan. The Directive specifically targets the worst performing buildings and households, which are exposed to energy poverty and at risk of energy prices. (More at energy.ec.europa.eu)

As the world struggles to combat climate change, scientists agree that protecting what remains of Earth's vast rainforests is a key priority. When forests are lost, less carbon can be absorbed from the atmosphere. And when trees are burned to clear land for agriculture, the release of huge amounts of CO2 further accelerates global warming.

The importance of forests in the "compensation" of greenhouse gas emissions has long been recognized. Many forest landowners, including a growing number of national governments, offer carbon credits as compensation for forest conservation and emission avoidance. (News Desk., more at thenews.com)

Researchers successfully converted CO ₂  to methanol by shining sunlight on individual copper atoms deposited on a light-activated material, a discovery that paves the way for the creation of new green fuels.

An international team of researchers from the University of Nottingham's School of Chemistry, the University of Birmingham, the University of Queensland and the University of Ulm designed a material made of copper anchored on nanocrystalline carbon nitride. Copper atoms are embedded in a nanocrystalline structure that allows electrons to pass from carbon nitride to CO ₂ , which is a necessary step in the production of methanol from CO ₂  under the influence of sunlight. The research was published in the journal Sustainable Energy & Fuels  Journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry. (UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM, more at eurekalert.org)

In February 2024, the European Commission presented its assessment of the EU's 2040 climate target. The Commission recommended reducing the EU's net greenhouse gas emissions by 90 % by 2040 compared to 1990. The 2040 climate target will reaffirm the EU's commitment to combating climate change and will shape our path beyond 2030 to ensure the EU achieves climate neutrality by 2050. The climate neutrality target is at the heart of the European Green Deal and is a legally binding target set out in European climate law.

The EU's 2030 climate target is to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % compared to 1990. The 2040 climate target is our next intermediate step on the road to climate neutrality. (More on climate.ec.europa.eu)

The EU mission label was awarded today to 23 cities that are part of the EU mission focused on climate neutral and smart cities, which is one of the EU missions within the Horizon Europe program. The brand recognizes cities' plans to achieve climate neutrality as early as 2030 and aims to facilitate access to public and private funding to achieve this goal. The first ten cities received the mark in October 2023.

The EU Mission Brand was awarded by Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, during a ceremony with mayors and city representatives at the EU Research and Innovation Days, Europe's largest forum to discuss the future of science and innovation and to creating solutions with citizens and stakeholders.

23 cities received the label: Ioannina, Kalamata, Kozani, Thessaloniki (Greece), Heidelberg (Germany), Leuven (Belgium), Espoo, Lahti, Lappeenranta, Tampere, Turku (Finland), Barcelona, Seville (Spain), Pecs (Hungary). , Malmö (Sweden), Guimaraes, Lisbon (Portugal), Florence, Parma (Italy), Marseille, Lyon (France), Limassol (Cyprus) and Izmir (Türkiye). (More on ec.europa.eu)

Given the urgency of the matter, more entities are pledging their net zero goals. (more…)

Although the idea of a climate-neutral society is indeed ambitious, there are still several obstacles that will need to be overcome. Here are some relevant examples:

• Costs of implementing climate-neutral policies.
• Appreciate new technologies such as DMFC power supplies as alternatives to traditional methods.
• Political stumbling blocks and legislative tussles associated with climate neutrality.
• Educating the average consumer about the benefits of climate neutrality.

Likewise, there are certain parts of the world that may be hesitant to adopt a climate-neutral mindset simply because of the logistics alone. This is why developed countries must be willing to provide assistance when needed. Nevertheless, some governments are more likely to provide climate-neutral services than others.

51toCarbonZero's mission is to enable large corporations faster and (more…)