Carbon neutrality can be defined as a state of net-zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions achieved by balancing CO2 emissions with removals. ‘Net-zero’ has become a shorthand phrase to describe how governments, companies, and others should respond to climate change challenges and to the implementation of the Paris Agreement. However, there is no standard definition of what exactly net-zero entails, and certainly no commonly agreed roadmap for how to get there. The motivation for this study is to provide a broad perspective on net-zero scenarios with a focus on scenarios that are in line with the International Energy Agency (IEA) Net-Zero by 2050 scenario (IEA 2021) and scenarios that embrace the circular carbon economy (CCE) concept.
Eric Williams
Former Research Fellow
Eric has over 20 years of experience as an energy and environmental economist focusing on energy and climate change policy,…
Eric has over 20 years of experience as an energy and environmental economist focusing on energy and climate change policy, energy systems analysis, and climate change mitigation and adaptation options. Eric was managing the writing and publication of a series of reports on Circular Carbon Economy to be delivered to the G20 this year. The reports are written by International Organizations, including the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), and the Global CCS Institute (GCCSI). Eric was previously acting Program Director for the Climate Change and Environment program at KAPSARC. Before joining KAPSARC, Eric worked as an economist with the North Carolina Utilities Commission and was a consultant at the OECD. Eric has previously worked in the United Nations, academic research institutes, think tanks, and government.