Introducing the Net Zero Now Manifesto

How can governments and businesses ensure they make a full and fair contribution to the Paris Agreement's overarching goal of achieving "a balance between anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century"?

The answer is through the adoption of credible net zero targets and strategies that chart a path towards a genuine net zero economy.

To mark the launch of BusinessGreen's Net Zero Now campaign we are today publishing a Net Zero Manifesto, sketching out how governments and businesses can best deliver the coherent goals, policies, and actions that will drive the emergence of net zero economies by mid-century.

The intention is not to source signatories or endorsements for the below manifesto, but rather to help shape debate in a field that is as fast-moving as it is critically important.

Net Zero Now Manifesto

There is no way to avert dangerous climate change, build a healthy and prosperous global economy, and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement without the rapid development of a net zero emission economy.

As such, governments and businesses should:

• Adopt net zero emissions targets that are determined by the latest independent scientific advice and reviewed on a regular basis.

• Develop long term net zero emission strategies that model a range of decarbonisation scenarios and establish a roadmap for eradicating all avoidable emissions and establishing negative emissions approaches where necessary.

• Adopt short and medium-term science-based emissions targets and support the strengthening of climate policies and investment, with a particular focus on curbing emissions from transport, buildings, and energy.

• Significantly increase clean tech R&D efforts, with a focus on curbing the cost of clean energy, tackling emissions from aviation, shipping, agriculture, and industry, and delivering viable negative emissions technologies.

• Publicly disclose climate risks and opportunities in line with the recommendations of the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures and support a Royal Commission on the financial and geopolitical risks and opportunities presented by the rapid transition to a net zero emission economy.

• Develop strategies to help high carbon industries and communities access the opportunities presented by the transition to a net zero emission economy.