Wildfires raging on the US West Coast, hurricanes slamming the South, and flooding in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions make a compelling case for climate change, according to Apple chief Tim Cook.
“It’s horrendous,” Cook said. “It’s a reminder of how serious climate change is and what’s at stake.”
The industrialised world has been spewing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases faster than they can be contained for centuries. Climate change, and growing popular frustration about the inadequate response, is pushing countries to take action, or at least say they will. 
Becoming carbon neutral – also known as climate-neutral or net zero – is now a legal requirement in some countries, while European authorities are adopting legislation to become the first net zero continent. 
Being carbon neutral envisages cutting emissions to the very limit and compensating for what can’t be eliminated. 
Countries can spur the use of cleaner vehicles, transition their economies away from carbon-intensive heavy manufacturing and switch to greener sources of electricity such as wind and solar. 
Companies can adjust their practices, so a data centre operator might switch to renewable power or an airline might purchase carbon offset credits.
Developed by the UN and non-profit groups, these let the buyers emit a specified amount of greenhouse gas, which is offset by using the money raised to fund carbon-reduction projects such as reforestation. 
In fact, what was a vague concept only several years ago is now a widely adopted goal that’s central to efforts to combat climate change. 
Dozens of countries have committed to go net zero, or at least outperform carbon-reduction targets set out in the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. 
The UK and France are among a growing number of nations worldwide to have passed legislation requiring net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. China, the world’s biggest polluter, said it intends to become carbon neutral by 2060. 
The European Union proposed to completely overhaul its economy to achieve the same goal and will pour more than €500bn ($580bn) into everything from electric cars to renewable energy and agriculture. 
Dozens of global cities and companies have announced carbon-neutral initiatives. Oil giant BP is now aiming to become a net-zero emissions company by 2050. 
Buildings, airlines and events have also made the pledge, while investments groups managing almost $5tn of assets have committed to having carbon-neutral portfolios by 2050.
Every new country, company, or entity that joins this carbon-neutral group puts more pressure on holdouts to align their policies with global goals. 
Is this all just talk?
That’s the big question. Any country can make its carbon footprint appear smaller by shifting the burden; for instance winding down polluting industries at home but buying the same products from abroad. 
To be sure, longer term, more urgent government action is needed to trigger changes in transport, infrastructure, land use and how cities are built. 
Global economies will need to invest as much as $55tn through the middle of the century to meet an emissions goal and contain warming of the planet, according to a report by a group of executives from energy-intensive companies including ArcelorMittal, BP and Royal Dutch Shell. 
Going net zero, no doubt, is a collective global climate commitment.

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