Terms like climate neutrality, carbon neutrality, and climate contribution are often used interchangeably but have distinct meanings. In this blog post, we will differentiate between these terms and shed light on their significance in the field of sustainability.
Climate Neutrality refers to a state where a company, organization, or individual has balanced their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with an equal amount of GHG removal or offsetting. It includes all types of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), among others.
On the other hand, Carbon Neutrality is a more specific term that refers to balancing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions alone. To achieve carbon neutrality, an entity must offset their CO2 emissions by supporting projects that remove or reduce CO2 from the atmosphere. These projects could be related to renewable energy or energy efficiency, to name a few.
Climate Contribution is a more proactive approach to combatting climate change. Instead of merely balancing emissions, an organization or individual actively contributes to projects that have a positive impact on the climate. These contributions can take various forms, such as investing in renewable energy projects or supporting initiatives that promote sustainable agriculture. By focusing on climate contribution, entities go beyond achieving neutrality and take an active role in creating a more sustainable and resilient world.
How can CO2 neutrality be achieved?
Since completely avoiding CO2 emissions throughout the entire value chain is difficult, companies can invest in climate protection projects and purchase certificates to offset their remaining emissions. To avoid greenwashing, a science-based calculation of the carbon footprint should always be used, and climate protection projects should be carefully selected.
How DFGE can support
DFGE offers comprehensive support in line with scientific standards on climate strategy. The process begins with calculating the carbon footprint using DFGE’s proven top-down approach, setting goals and identifying CO2 reduction potentials, avoiding CO2 emissions, and then moving on to CO2 reporting and offsetting for a CO2-neutral company or product. To achieve CO2 neutrality, the DFGE follows the recognized PAS:2060 standard. If you have any further questions about our service, please contact us by e-mail or by phone +49 8192 99733-20.
