The Non-Zero-Sum Game: Achieving Net-Zero Emissions

This article is part of the “The Road to Sustainability?” weekly review on Linkedin. You can receive the newsletter each Wednesday in your inbox with more access to analyses by subscribing here.

Thanks to the positive feedback I received from the first series of chronicles, "Thunder only happens when it's raining"—Climate change, global warming," I dedicate this month to insights on climate change, energy systems, and related innovations. To expand the focus, you can find resources, external highlights, and insights in the second part of each review.

I hope this will answer the many questions I get about helping businesses embrace sustainability principles and become more future-proof.

As always—referring to sustainability—you'll find a conceptual visualization, the latest podcast episode with a special guest, and more.

Thank you again for your loyalty. I highly appreciate you. Please feel free to tweet ● share this weekly roundup.

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?? Yael

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Table of content

1. Preamble
2. The shift chronicles: "The Non-Zero-Sum Game: Achieving Net-Zero Emissions"
3. Endnote
4. Our world in data
5. Weekly highlights: insights, visual and podcast episode

This article is part of the “The Road to Sustainability?” weekly review on Linkedin. It is now followed by 14,200+ subscribers and counting, including Fortune Global 500 companies, from all industries and sectors, governmental and non-governmental agencies, VCs, fast-growing startups, and entrepreneurs from all around the globe.

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1. Key takeaways

• Renewable technologies that have the potential to reduce emissions are only in the early stages of their progress. [Read more in the previous review "Thunder only happens when it's raining"—Climate change, global warming"]
• Transition to best-in-class carbon-neutral business models by adopting in-house carbon expertise. [This review]
• A lack of common standards and data disclosure complicates sustainability adoption and long-term investments. [Next week's review.]

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2. Preamble

“The earth has entered a period of climatic change that is likely to cause widespread economic, social and environmental dislocation over the next century if emissions of heat-trapping gases are not reduced, according to experts advising the world's governments.”— The New York Time, Sept. 18, 1995.

The European Union has agreed to make climate neutrality by 2050 a legally binding target and set a target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030 compared to the 1990 levels.

Last week’s White House Summit on Climate put innovation at the forefront of the climate fight—bringing together corporate leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs that will help us avoid a climate disaster.

Within the next 30 years, the planet must achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to prevent the worst effects of climate change.

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2. The shift chronicles: "The Non-Zero-Sum Game: Achieving Net-Zero Emissions"

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is chemically inert and thus everlasting as long as it is present in the atmosphere. As a gas, it has only two ways out of the atmosphere: photosynthesis and dissolution in the water. Unfortunately, these two processes will weaken in the context of global warming. 

In the 200 years since the industrial revolution began, the concentration of CO2 has risen due to human activities, mainly released from burning coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Fossil fuel production and combustion, use carbon sequestered in the lithosphere for several million years, has caused the atmospheric concentration of CO2 to rise by around 50 percent from the beginning of the industrial era to the year 2020.

2.1—The alarm is on, but nobody (wants) to hear it

Although the goal is straightforward, considering what a net-zero economy would look like and how we might spend it is more complex than what we think. The global economy has been driven by simplistic approaches that only aim to transfer investments to lower-carbon sectors. Such policies fail to accept that to achieve net-zero emissions. We will need to find alternatives in all areas of the economy.

Global, state, and federal governments and private-sector stakeholders need to implement wise, tailored strategies to promote progress and facilitate mass implementation of renewable technologies. At the local level, various global organizations, producers, farmers, ranchers are working to restore grasslands through holistic decision-making.

Various recent scientific studies show that the weakening of wells, both terrestrial and oceanic, is in progress, with a major risk that the sinks turn into sources, a risk documented for decades in the scientific literature.

2.2—The ocean, the geostrategic stake of our century, is in bad shape

The ocean, the origin of life on Earth, is essential to the maintenance of this life. One aspect of global climate change is ocean acidification. Everything we do now to combat climate change would help the ocean's future.

The pH of surface ocean waters has dropped by 0.1 pH unit during this period. This does not seem like much, but since the pH scale is logarithmic, this adjustment reflects a 30 percent rise in acidity. Surface waters dissolve carbon dioxide and other atmospheric contaminants. Dissolved gases are in equilibrium with atmospheric gases. Carbonic acid is formed when carbon dioxide reacts with water in solution. 2

Since concerted global attempts to track ocean acidification are only in their early stages, it is presently difficult to determine precisely how the effects of ocean acidification will cascade across the aquatic food chain and change the overall structure of marine environments. As the urgent need is globally recognized, and with the pace of ocean acidification accelerating, scientists, resource managers, and policymakers will need to strengthen science as a basis for sound decision-making and action.

2.3—The Greenhouse Effect

While transparent to visible light, CO2 is a greenhouse gas that absorbs and emits infrared radiation at its two infrared-active vibrational frequencies. We will achieve net-zero emissions when any remaining human-caused GHG emissions are balanced out by removing GHGs from the atmosphere in a process known as carbon removal.

To ensure productive implementation and avoid counterproductive or detrimental deployment, carbon removal methods will entail good governance, accounting processes, and policy protections.

While some are concerned that carbon elimination would distract from current attempts to curb pollution, it has the ability to expand the public policy agenda on climate change in ways that would attract new partners and expertise to the table.

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3. Endnote

The aggressive emissions-cutting policies modeled in most global carbon pathways are insufficient to meet the Paris Agreement's temperature-limitation goals. In these pathways, attempts to extract carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere on a gigaton scale—billions of metric tons per year globally—are also needed.

A variety of methods and strategies are being considered for large-scale carbon reduction. Many of these show promise, but they are still fraught with difficulties and constraints. In certain instances, their maximum potential remains uncertain.

Given this state of volatility, a portfolio-based approach to carbon reduction technology will increase the chances of achieving large-scale CO2 removal.

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4. Our world in data

• The latest measurement of atmospheric CO2 (as of April 29, 2021): 419.61 ppm; April 2020: 418.32 ppm; 25 years ago: 360 ppm; 250 years ago, est: 250 ppm.
• The UK to speed up the target to cut carbon emissions by 75 percent. Hitting the targets would require more electric cars, low-carbon heating, renewable electricity, and, for many, cutting down on meat and dairy.

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5. Weekly highlights: insights and resources

3.1—Resources

1. Carbon dioxide definitions and more
2. Ocean acidification by the National Oceanic and atmospheric administration

3.2—Viewed on YouTube

• The inside story of the Paris climate agreement by Christiana Figueres
• How to green the world's deserts and reverse climate change by Allan Savory (from 8 years ago)
• One of the most inspiring talks I've had the opportunity to listen to with Daniel Kahneman and Yuval Noah Harari: 'Global Trends Shaping Humankind.'

3.3—Visual of the week

3.4—Podcast: Change and Innovation with Deborah Hagar

I had the great opportunity to discuss with the fascinating Deborah Hagar. Deborah founded The Coalition for Quality Affordable Health Care, a collaborative in new systems and models of healthcare with physician leadership, the hospital industry, County and City leadership, labor, business, and consumer groups.

Deborah has also established The Foundation for Sustainable Communities, a private non-profit organization driving economic growth and development of high-value jobs by establishing an Analytics Center of Excellence in partnership with IBM.

The first podcast series is dedicated to diversity, inclusion, ethics, belonging, and wellbeing. Listen to The Road to Sustainability? Podcast on your favorite streamer Anchor - Apple Podcasts - Breaker - GooglePodcasts - Spotify - YouTube - SoundCloud.

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Information

?? The IEEE Global Artificial Intelligence Systems (AIS) Well-being Initiative is an IEEE program whose purpose is to ensure every technologist is educated, trained, and empowered to prioritize ethical considerations in the design and development of autonomous and intelligent systems. The Initiative is global, open, and inclusive, welcoming all individuals or representatives of organizations dedicated to advancing technology for humanity. Please reach out to me directly to learn how to join the Global Artificial Intelligence Systems (AIS) Well-being Initiative team.

?? The Road to Sustainability is a global network to build a more efficient, safe, and inclusive world. Sustainability is a fundamental part of every organization's culture, investment goals, and actions as a responsible business undergoing changes and being transferred between paradigm shifts.

?? Nevelab Technologies is a purpose-driven platform that leverages artificial intelligence to provide organizations with the tools to integrate sustainable imperatives while generating actionable insights.

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Disclaimer

The Road to Sustainability? is an initiative by Nevelab Technologies and is circulated for informational and educational purposes only.

Nevelab Technologies Research utilizes data and information from the public, private and internal sources, including data from actual Nevelab open data access. While we consider information from external sources reliable, we do not assume responsibility for its accuracy.

The views expressed herein are solely those of Nevelab Technologies as of this report's date and are subject to change without notice. Nevelab Technologies may have a significant financial interest in one or more of the positions and securities or derivatives discussed. Those responsible for preparing this report receive compensation based upon various factors, including, among other things, the quality of their work and firm revenues.