Journal Article

Strategies to achieve a carbon neutral society: a review

Yap, Pow-Seng, Chen, Lin, Yang, Mingyu, Rooney, David W., Fawzy, Samer, Msigwa, Goodluck, Osman, Ahmed I.

2022

Overview

The increasing global industrialization and over-exploitation of fossil fuels has induced the release of greenhouse gases, leading to an increase in global temperature and causing environmental issues. There is therefore an urgent necessity to reach net-zero carbon emissions. Only 4.5% of countries have achieved carbon neutrality, and most countries are still planning to do so by 2050–2070. Moreover, synergies between different countries have hampered synergies between adaptation and mitigation policies, as well as their co-benefits. Here, we present a strategy to reach a carbon neutral economy by examining the outcome goals of the 26th summit of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 26). Methods have been designed for mapping carbon emissions, such as input–output models, spatial systems, geographic information system maps, light detection and ranging techniques, and logarithmic mean divisia. We present decarbonization technologies and initiatives, and negative emissions technologies, and we discuss carbon trading and carbon tax. We propose plans for carbon neutrality such as shifting away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy, and the development of low-carbon technologies, low-carbon agriculture, changing dietary habits and increasing the value of food and agricultural waste. Developing resilient buildings and cities, introducing decentralized energy systems, and the electrification of the transportation sector is also necessary. We also review the life cycle analysis of carbon neutral systems.

• Publisher: Springer International Publishing,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Agricultural wastes / Analytical Chemistry / Carbon / Carbon cycle / carbon markets / Carbon neutrality / Carbon offsets / Clean technology / Climate change / Conference of the Parties / Decarbonization / Earth and Environmental Science / Ecotoxicology / Electrification / Emissions / Emissions trading / energy / Energy policy / Environment / Environmental Chemistry / Exploitation / Fossil fuels / Gases / Geochemistry / Geographic information systems / Geographical information systems / Global temperatures / Greenhouse effect / Greenhouse gases / greenhouses / Industrialization / Information systems / International organizations / Lidar / Life cycle / Life cycle analysis / life cycle assessment / Life cycles / Mitigation / Net zero / Pollution / Remote sensing / Renewable energy / renewable energy sources / Renewable resources / Resource management / Review / society / Taxation / temperature / Transportation industry