We now have a welcome definition of net zero – here’s what that might mean for nature

The author asserts that nature-based solutions (NbS) are essential for climate mitigation and resilience but must complement, not replace, industrial emissions cuts. Referencing the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) net-zero standard, the text notes that companies must reduce internal emissions by 90-95% by 2050. NbS could potentially provide one-third of the emissions reductions needed by 2030, addressing the fact that land-use emissions constitute approximately 25% of global emissions.

• The Science Based Targets Initiative's net-zero standard requires most companies to reduce their internal emissions by at least 90-95% by 2050, prioritizing cuts within internal operations and supply chains, including forests, land-use, and agriculture (FLAG).
• Nature-based solutions (NbS) are not a substitute for industrial emissions reductions; they must be implemented alongside deep cuts to avoid overshooting the 1.5°C target.
• Deforestation and land-use emissions represent about 25% of global emissions, and scaled-up NbS could provide roughly one-third of the reductions required to meet global climate goals by 2030.
• The Energy Transitions Commission estimates that 200 gigatons of emissions will have accumulated in the atmosphere by 2050, even under ambitious net-zero pathways, necessitating action beyond internal emission cuts to align with the 1.5°C trajectory.

APA

Mendiluce, M. (2021). We now have a welcome definition of net zero – here’s what that might mean for nature. We Mean Business Coalition. https://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/blog/we-now-have-a-welcome-definition-of-net-zero-heres-what-that-might-mean-for-nature/

Chicago

Mendiluce, María. We now have a welcome definition of net zero – here’s what that might mean for nature. We Mean Business Coalition, 2021. https://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/blog/we-now-have-a-welcome-definition-of-net-zero-heres-what-that-might-mean-for-nature/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Mendiluce |first1=María |title=We now have a welcome definition of net zero – here’s what that might mean for nature |publisher=We Mean Business Coalition |date=30 October 2021 |url=https://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/blog/we-now-have-a-welcome-definition-of-net-zero-heres-what-that-might-mean-for-nature/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{mendiluce2021now, author = {Mendiluce, María}, title = {{We now have a welcome definition of net zero – here’s what that might mean for nature}}, publisher = {We Mean Business Coalition}, year = {2021}, month = oct, url = {https://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/blog/we-now-have-a-welcome-definition-of-net-zero-heres-what-that-might-mean-for-nature/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }