Since the Industrial Revolution, humanity has had numerous impacts on the earth.
Carbon dioxide emission, one of the important greenhouse gases that raises the earth’s
surface temperature is one of the main examples. Beginning with the superpower countries such as America, the United Kingdom, and Russia, carbon dioxide emissions spread worldwide. However, in the 1950s, scientists raised the problem of carbon dioxide emission.
Nevertheless, the increment of carbon dioxide emissions was unstoppable. Humans were unable to make changes that were against their way of making money. As of 2025, carbon dioxide emission is the biggest headache we are facing. Today, scientists are trying to find a breakthrough to bring net zero carbon emissions.
The first step for net zero carbon emission is to verify the carbon emission footstep. To solve the problem, we must know the cause of the problem and alter it. Every industry must assess its carbon emission footprint regularly. Then, how to gauge the carbon emission footprint?
According to AMCS, “A corporate carbon footprint is calculated based on measured or estimated consumption data (natural gas, oil, biomass, electricity, fuel, paper, materials, etc.) and emissions factors known as CO2 equivalents. ” This CO2 equivalent consists of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. The measurement must be done consistently, once a year.
While we compute the amount of carbon dioxide, there are three main scopes in the
greenhouse gas. First is direct greenhouse gas emission. This gas is manufactured by burning fossil fuel, chemical reactions, and industrial equipment. The second scope is indirect greenhouse gas emission, which mainly originates from energy purchased by the industry. The third scope is the greenhouse emission that was produced from industrial activities. In my opinion, this step has lots of advantages for companies since the company can figure out the part that consumes the most energy, and earn a possibility of cost saving by cutting it. Additionally, corporations can promote themselves as an environmentally friendly company to customers, as consumers often prefer sustainable companies.
The second step is setting net zero goals. Whenever we have something to achieve, we must set a goal. As well as net zero carbon emission, there should be a goal that may motivate industries and a sense of accomplishment. Also, targeting net zero goals gives
specific plans or achievements that lead industries to be on the right track. A goal that industries might set is whether the industry uses renewable energy or reduces carbon emissions.
The third step is choosing renewable energy. Burning fossil fuels makes the biggest contribution to releasing carbon dioxide. This means to achieve net zero carbon emission, it is
inevitable to reduce the amount of fossil fuel usage . Even though fossil fuels take up a large part of our lives, there are potential replacements for fossil fuels. For instance, renewable energy, nuclear power, and hydrogen are the primary replacements for fossil fuels. Yet, those reinstatements show deficiencies and endless studies are still going on among scientists.
Moreover, great amounts of enterprises are converting the use of fossil fuels into using renewable energies. Especially solar, wind, and hydroelectric are the major examples.
Although renewable energy has limitations due to geographical and weather variables, with more research and development of the technology, there are possibilities that those energies will replace fossil fuels. In accordance with Grassroots Volunteering, “Cochin International Airport in India stands as a pioneering example of sustainable energy use in the aviation
sector. It earned the distinction of being the world’s first airport to be fully powered by solar energy. This remarkable feat was achieved through the installation of a solar farm, comprising 46,150 solar panels spread across 45 acres near the air cargo complex. The solar power project, with a capacity of 40 megawatts, not only caters to the airport’s entire electricity requirements but also contributes surplus energy back to the grid.” This airport showed remarkable success, which proved to the world that replacing fossil fuels is no longer a dream.
In conclusion, there are many methods for net zero carbon emission. For example, assessing carbon emission footprint, establishing goals, and utilizing renewable energy. After the Industrial Revolution, the rate of atmospheric carbon dioxide increased rapidly, which enhanced the temperature of the earth’s surface. Even though it seems like a hard issue, researchers are trying their best to get their job done.
By. Seunghu Chi
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