What does ‘net zero’ really mean? RSS Climate Change Task Force release new explainer

‘Net zero’ is a term we come across often in public debates about climate change, but what does it actually mean in practice? A new explainer from our RSS Climate Change Task Force looks behind the headlines to unpack the data, models and assumptions that underpin estimates of greenhouse gas emissions and removals. 

Net zero has become an important target for governments and organisations across the globe, with the UK committed to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. However, behind the target lies a complex system of measurement, modelling and reporting.  

Our explainer examines: 

•  How the UK defines net zero, and how national emissions and removals are estimated across different sectors of the economy  

• How uncertainty is measured and communicated, and why emissions estimates are regularly revised 

• The role of statistics, models and assumptions and biases in calculating emissions, and how these choices can influence the final figures 

• Why transparency and independent statistical oversight are essential, particularly where incentives may introduce bias 

• How the design of climate targets can affect what is measured, reported and prioritised. 

As the world marks ten years since the Paris Agreement entered into force, understanding the statistics behind net zero has never been more important. One of the key aspects of the agreement was to reach net zero (or ‘climate neutrality’) between 2050 and 2100; statistical thinking helps us move beyond simple headlines and engage with the evidence needed to assess progress towards global climate goals. 

This explainer forms part of the RSS Climate Change Task Force’s series of accessible guides designed to help people understand the statistics and evidence underpinning climate change.  

Read the explainer in full.