"Global carbon emissions are still breaking records. It’s time to bring AI in to help." Ajarn Nick
- Carbonoi
- Sep 24, 2024
- 2 min read
Setting a goal to combat global warming is a great starting point, but the path to achieving Net Zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is challenging. Promises made by countries aren’t just documented on YouTube. Today, we have mechanisms to track and disclose data for transparency from various sources.
Our Carbonoi page brings you a look at data from Netzerotracker.net, showing that more than 150 out of 198 countries, along with 1,186 cities and 1,976 companies, have declared Net Zero targets, with varying timelines. These targets cover 88% of global GHG emissions at the national level, 93% of global GDP (PPP), and 89% of the world’s population.
However, the level of seriousness varies. 28 countries have enacted laws with penalties for non-compliance, while 52 countries, including Thailand, are in the process of drafting policies. The department of climate change and environment (CCE) under the ministry of natural resources and environment is currently accelerating its review of the Climate Change Act, aiming to propose it to the cabinet by the end of the year. In the future, Thailand will have mechanisms and tools such as GHG reporting, carbon taxes, and an Emission Trading Scheme to drive progress. Meanwhile, more than 50 countries have yet to take concrete action.
It is also crucial to understand the terminology. Two popular goals are #CarbonNeutrality and #NetZero, which can be set at the individual, organizational, city, or national levels:
🚀 Carbon Neutrality refers to achieving net-zero carbon dioxide emissions, focusing on:
Reducing carbon emissions (e.g. cutting fossil fuel use)
Absorbing and compensating for carbon emissions (e.g. reforestation)
Offsetting through the purchase of carbon credits
🇹🇭 Thailand has set a goal for Carbon Neutrality by 2050.
🚀 Net Zero refers to achieving net-zero GHG emissions, focusing on:
Reducing all types of GHG emissions
Absorbing and capturing GHG from the atmosphere
No offsetting through carbon credit purchases!
🇹🇭 Thailand has set a goal for Net Zero by 2065.
According to Climateactiontracker.org, assessment of G20 and other selected countries in November 2023, most Net Zero targets are vague and not aligned with good practices. Strong short-term targets are essential.
Since GHG emissions are invisible and hard to detect, it’s the role of technology, like #AIforClimateChange, to collect data, analyze thoroughly, continuously improve, and ensure accuracy. Without adequate support and monitoring, these targets may end up meaningless.
Interesting Fact from Ajarn Nick:“While the world seems committed, did you know that global carbon dioxide emissions continue to break records? We, including AI, must all do our part to reduce GHG emissions in every way possible.”
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