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What is net zero?

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We release 55 gigatons of greenhouse gases[br]into the air every year.

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To stop global warming,

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we have to get our greenhouse[br]gas emissions down to zero.

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But for every country[br]to immediately shut down

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all greenhouse gas-releasing activities

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would be an enormous challenge,

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especially since some countries

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have built up an economic head start[br]with no restrictions.

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So instead, we can use[br]an approach called net zero.

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Net zero means that for every molecule[br]of greenhouse gas we put into the air,

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we also take one out,

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making our net emissions zero.

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Net zero requires us[br]to make big changes today,

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use less more efficiently,

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and even bigger technological[br]changes for the future,

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like replacing all greenhouse gas-emitting[br]activities with clean ones.

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We'll also have to capture[br]greenhouse gases from the air

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and store them permanently.

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And yet, net zero is our best chance[br]for a sustainable future.

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[Countdown

0:01:06.676,0:01:09.336
Take action on climate change[br]at Countdown.ted.com]