Status: Submitted
Citation: Rose, SK, 2024. Net-zero Climate Targets are Not for Everyone. Submitted to Environmental Research Letters.
Net-zero climate targets are frequently discussed, and even demanded. However, there is very little scientific discussion of net-zero strategies for local decision-makers, such as regions, cities, and corporations. With stakeholders calling for net-zero targets, there is need for scientific guidance. This article calls out this issue and, using available resources and illustrative analysis, generates foundational insights for more informed dialogue and development of local strategies and policies, which are critical for realistic, actionable solutions. Across analyses, the article finds evidence that net-zero is not for everyone. It is essential to consider differences in decarbonization opportunities and enabling conditions that will help balance the challenges of decarbonization and facilitate greater ambition. Companies, policy-makers, other stakeholders, and researchers will find this article to be of great interest given its relevance to developing practical and actionable strategies for addressing climate change.
Link to Journal: Environmental Research Letters - IOPscience