Meaning & use
net zero
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
A state in which the greenhouse gases put into the air are balanced by an equal amount taken out, so the total added is zero.
Grammar: Used without an article: reach net zero by 2050.
Patterns
- reach net zero
- net zero by 2050
The country aims to reach net zero by 2050.
Planting forests helps the company move toward net zero.
Many cities have set a net zero target.
adjectivebefore a noun
Describing an organization, building or plan that adds no extra greenhouse gases once removals are counted.
Grammar: Used before nouns: a net-zero building.
Patterns
- net-zero emissions
- net-zero target
The college is building a net-zero campus.
The airline pledged net-zero emissions by mid-century.
Their net-zero plan includes solar power and tree planting.
Common combinations
- reach net zero
- The government hopes to reach net zero in thirty years.
- net-zero emissions
- The plan commits to net-zero emissions.
- net zero target
- The company's net zero target is ambitious.
- net zero by 2050
- Many nations promise net zero by 2050.
- path to net zero
- The report describes a path to net zero.
Synonyms and how they differ
- carbon neutral
- Carbon neutral usually counts only carbon dioxide, while net zero covers all greenhouse gases.
- climate neutral
- Climate neutral is broader and includes other effects on the climate, such as other gases and land use.
- zero emissions
- Zero emissions means nothing is released at all, while net zero allows emissions that are cancelled out.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: net zero or zero emissions?
net zero vs zero emissions
Zero emissions means none released; net zero means emissions equal removals.
Practice
A company at net zero ___.
Choose one answer.
Net zero means emissions are balanced by removals. It does not mean no emissions are produced.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “net zero”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.