#156 Ten Steps to Net Zero: Can We Do It?

Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast

Episode 156

Ten Steps to Net Zero: Can We Do It? 

In the last two episodes I talked a lot about how as a global community we are over stepping the planetary boundaries that are responsible for our very survival. Hopefully by now we all realize the need to change a lot of the basic things in our lives that we take for granted. In other words, how we run our lives on a day to day basis.  

Part of the discussion about those changes needs to include the concept of net zero. Think of this in terms of putting back as much as you take out, replacing the resources that you use, minimizing the impact of every aspect of your lives. That is what we have to do to reach net zero. So stay tuned for E156 Ten Steps to Net Zero: Can We Do It? 

Welcome back everyone to the Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast. This is your host Patrick and this is E156 which is called Ten Steps to Net Zero: Can We Do It? 

Good News Story of the Week

But before we get started lets once again talk about the good news story of the week. 

When we were living and working in Saint Kitts, it was relatively common to see mongoose on the island. When I inquired as to how that came to be I was told that the island used to be overrun by snakes and rats which had been introduced as an invasive species. Since a lot of the island is covered with jungle, the pests were impossible to control. Thus the introduction of the mongoose. 

But this is a similar story from all over the world. The United Nations estimates that global financial losses due to invasive species is approximately $423 billion USD annually. Furthermore these damages and losses quadruple every decade. In the US alone, estimates of annual damage is more than $21 billion. But the bottom line is that the introduction of invasive species increasing year to year and is mostly the result of global trade.  I guess this is one of the costs of our global economy. 

The good news is that some places around the world are working on a solution. There is a tiny uninhabited British island in the eastern Caribbean that used to be completely overrun by mice. But just recently it has been almost completely restored to a pre-colonial state of diversity. 

The island is called Sombrero, and has become a fantastic case study on how to completely eradicate an invasive species. These isolated ecosystems make them particularly vulnerable to invasive species. The mice on Sombrero were preying on native reptiles and nesting seabird eggs. Additionally, some of the endemic species found no where else were almost extinct. It is interesting to note that although the Caribbean islands only make up a small percentage of the land mass on Earth, they rank in the top three for biodiversity.

But a conservation foundation launched a re-wilding project, eradicated the mice, and populations started to rebound in only 2 years. After the mice were gone the Anguillan National Trust began a replanting campaign in order to restore native vegetation. And as a note of even better news this project is just one of more than 30 off shore restoration projects by Fauna and Flora and Re:wild. And yes this is just another way in which small groups are working to restore our planet and humanity is taking one more step toward sustainability.  

Now let’s move on to this weeks episode. 

In my opinion, it is interesting to sit back and observe how the concerns of society swing back and forth like a pendulum. For example, our concerns over environmental issues seem to change from time to time. In the 1950s and 1960 people were mostly concerned about protecting land and allowing nature to remain untouched. In the 1970’s we were more focused on pollution and decreased air quality. In the 1980s we heard a lot of industrial pollution producing acid rain. And in the 1990s we finally started to see significant environmentally favorable policy changes. 

The bottom line is that such changes in what we are concerned about as a culture makes it difficult to know what to focus on and what is truly important. Further more it doesn’t help that we are constantly bombarded with so much information we can hardly tell what is true and what is false or misleading information. For example, I remember a time when there was a campaign against eating eggs because they were considered unhealthy. When margarine was first introduced to the market as an inexpensive substitute for butter there was an enormous advertising and even a political campaign stating how toxic it was simply because those that had the hedge on butter production did not want any competition.  

But as far as the environment and the state of our planet is concerned now-a-days we are constantly bombarded with talk about climate change and how important it is to reach net zero. And that is the focus of this episode. I am going to discuss the concept of net zero and answer the question of whether or not reaching that point is even possible.

Carbon Emissions

At this point it should be no great surprise that climate change is the direct result of our carbon emissions. We’ve been talking about it for over a century and now it is painfully obvious that excess carbon being released into the atmosphere results in acidification of the oceans and the warming of our planet. 

This is happening because the way we live is carbon intensive and most everything we do results in the release of carbon into the atmosphere. The concept of net zero is focused on reducing and balancing our carbon emissions. The best option is that we reduce our carbon emissions to zero. As a second best option the emissions we do produce are balanced by removal of carbon from the atmosphere preferable by natural means. Either way, carbon emissions are balanced to zero which means we are no longer adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Another term you will hear about is carbon neutral. If it helps, then think of this in terms of your house. If your house produces as much energy as it uses, then your energy use is net zero. It is the same concept with carbon dioxide being removed from the atmosphere at the same rate it is being added. The end result is net zero. 

The benefit of this is that we would limit global warming and further climate change. At this point the climate science if quite clear. Limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees C or 2.7 degrees F, is still possible in order to avoid the worse of climate impacts. But this also means that we are going to have to reduce our carbon emissions by at least 50% by the year 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050. 

Two things are quite clear at this point: 

1) We are already seeing the effects of climate change and we are going to feel those effects for decades to come.  

2) Despite the enormous benefits of climate action to date, we humans are not acting fast enough. We desperately need to step up our game and do it in a hurry. We are making progress but it is happening far too slowly.  The sooner our emissions peak, and the lower they are at that point, the more realistic it becomes to actually reach net zero. 

The bottom line is that yes it is possible to reach net zero but there are some fairly dramatic measures that need to be implemented in order to do so. The remainder of this episode is going to focus  on ten key steps we need to take as a global community in order to make this happen. That said, for each of these ten steps I am also going to give some pointers on things that each of us can do. And the best part is that the necessary technology is already in place to make this possible. 

So let’s get down to it. Ten steps to net zero. 

Ten Steps to Net Zero

1) Get rid of coal fired power plants

Coal fired power is by far one of the dirtiest forms of energy. Despite that, these plants provide an affordable, reliable, and constant source of energy to meet our needs. Many coal fired plants are being replaced by natural gas plants. While it is true that natural gas burns far cleaner than coal, these power plants still produce enormous carbon emissions.  

As of this date, it is far less expensive to produce and manage a solar powered energy facility than it is to build a new coal or gas fired power plant. Now that being said, there are challenges too transitioning to solar and wind.  If you want to know more about that go back and listen to E120 which is all about why we are not using more renewable energy. 

But besides that, the best way to avoid all the trappings of big government and big industry is to simply be as independent as possible. The price of solar has gone down by nearly 80% over the last several decades. It is now entirely possible to run your household only on solar energy. I have been doing it for ten years. If you don’t believe me, go back and listen to E109 Fifteen Reason to Go Solar. 

2) Invest in clean energy and efficiency. 

One of the keys to utilizing renewable energy is to first maximize your efficiency. This is because the cleanest energy is the energy you never use. If we first maximize our efficiency we reduce the amount of energy needed in the first place. 

In fact, this is the first step when designing a solar electric system for a home. If you simply maximize your efficiency you can reduce the size of the solar array needed to run you entire home. For example, when I was designing the solar array for the cabin one of the first things I did was replace all standard lights bulbs with LEDs. For a $150 investment I reduce my energy needs for lighting by 75%. There are numerous things each of us can do to maximize the efficiency of our homes while spending very little money. 

Beyond that it is up to big government and big business to invest in clean energy sources instead of subsidizing the fossil fuel industry. Last year, fossil fuel subsidies rose to a record $7 trillion USD globally. These subsidies rose by $2 trillion just in the last two years. By comparison, the US government subsidizing the fossil fuel industry by as much as $50 billion annually while the renewable energy market subsidy last year was only $15.6 billon. 

3) Retrofit and decarbonize our buildings

The first part of this is increasing building efficiency. Then comes complete electrification, followed by adding in renewable energy sources. Then decarbonizing heating and cooling. In addition to that, using carbon neutral building materials. 

A perfect example of this is the iconic Empire State Building in New York City. The retrofit of this building was completed in 2010 at a cost of $31 million. Energy usage was cut by 40%, which saves the owners $4 million per year. Furthermore, the building is now run completely off of renewable energy. If it is possible to retrofit such a large building it is also possible for all of us to do the same to our homes.

4) Decarbonize the production of cement, steel and plastic

Now admittedly, this is one area that is going to be difficult to decarbonize. This is because of the need for very high heat and process emissions, as well as economic factors such as low profit margins, capital intensity, and long asset life.  Obviously there is a need for new technologies in order for this to happen. Cement and steel are very common building materials and a source of large amount of carbon emissions. So I will admit this is one area of decarbonizing our economy that the average person can’t really do anything about. 

5) Shift to electric vehicles

Transportation accounts for nearly 30% of our emissions. So clearly how we drive and what we drive has to be part of the discussion on climate change. That said, new technology in the EV industry is constantly emerging and there is big promise looming on the horizon. Just recently several massive lithium deposits have been discovered and this promises to push the EV industry forward. 

And it goes without saying that until we all make that transition to EVs there is a lot we can do to reduce our driving and maximize our efficiency. But if you want to learn more then go back and listen to E118 where I discuss the pros and cons of EVs. 

6) Increase public transportation, biking and walking

It is unfortunate in many ways that the US government has invested in public transportation too little too late. Public transportation in the US is often regarded as a poor mans game. Combined with the tremendous urban sprawl and the fact that the road systems were specifically designed for vehicle vehicle friendly travel, it is no big surprise that owning your own vehicle is common place.  For every 1000 people in the US 800 of those own their own vehicle. In India for every 1000 people only 30 people own their own vehicle. 

But there are ways to reduce your vehicle travel even if public transportation will not work for you. Despite the fact that Annette and I live very isolated we have still managed to reduce our commuting by 50% just be rearranging our work schedule, who we work for, and even working from home part of the time. So, I know from personal experience that it can be done. 

Personally I think US cities need to learn some lessons from cities around the world that have fantastic public transportation systems. There have been numerous times when I’ve lived outside the US and never had a reason to own a car. So, it is possible. 

7) Decarbonize aviation and shipping 

Again, this is an area where there is some fantastic emerging technologies. In my good news story of the week in E154 I discussed new battery technology that will go a long way toward decarbonizing our shipping and aviation industries, which is fantastic. 

But despite that, there are still things that each of us can do such as limiting our airline travel, limiting our online orders and returns, and buying local. You can also revisit E61 where I talk about tips for sustainable travel. 

8) Halt deforestation and restore degraded land

I know you have heard me say this before, one of the biggest drivers of deforestation is the cattle industry. In addition to that, vast areas of forest are cleared for soy production, palm oil plantations, timber and many other globally traded commodities. We are losing forested areas at a rate of one football field per second. 

Presently, it is estimated that only 1% of medicinal plants in the Amazon rain forest have been identified and studied. And this is yet another way that we are indiscriminately destroying a valuable resource that we have only begun to identify. 

You have to embrace the fact that what we do and the choices we make, right down to what we eat everyday, does make a difference. There are many easy things we can do to prevent further deforestation: go paperless, support responsible companies, plant more trees, buy and use responsibly, avoid the use of palm oil, recycle and buy recycled products, support sustainable agriculture, and by all means educate other people about this on-going problem. 

9) Reduce food loss and waste and improve our agricultural practices. 

Again this is a big area where our choices make a difference. Not only do our agricultural practices produce a huge impact, nearly 35% of the food produced globally goes to waste. If we simply eliminated food waste, we could reduce our environmental impact by 35%. If you want some tips go back and listen to E135 about how to prevent food waste and E138 tips for a sustainable kitchen. In additional to that, grow some of your own food. It does not get any fresher than food coming from your own backyard. What a great way to reduce your impact. 

10) Eat more plants and less meat. 

Once again, it is our meat production that is responsible for tremendous green house gas emission, biodiversity loss, deforestation, disease and land use changes all of which push climate change even further. 

But as you have heard me say before, I have no desire to be vegetarian or vegan. That said, we have reduced our beef consumption by nearly 75% over the last two years. We eat a lot more chicken and turkey and we also have a sustainable source of game meat. So we rarely buy beef anymore.  

I find it hard to believe that the global demand for meat is ever going to go away entirely. But it is possible for us to make better choices and eat more sustainably. 

Summary

 So there you have it folks, ten steps to net zero. 

1) Getting rid of coal fired power plants

2) Investing in clean energy and efficiency.

3) Retro-fitting and decarbonizing our buildings. 

4) Decarbonizing the production of cement, steel, and plastic. 

5) Shifting to EVs

6) Increasing public transportation, biking and walking

7) De-carbonizing aviation and shipping

8) Halting deforestation and restoring degraded lands

9) Reduce food loss, food waste, and improving our agricultural practices

10) Eating more plants and less meat. 

And the good news is that with a few exceptions in each of these areas there are numerous things each and everyone of us can do to make a difference. Additionally, most of the technologies needed to make this transition to net zero are already available and are increasingly cost efficient and competitive with high-carbon alternatives. Solar and wind are now the cheapest power available for most of the world. 

Additionally, global momentum is picking up the pace for net-zero targets especially with key economies such as China, the US, India and the European Union. Presently over 90 countries, which represents nearly 80% of global emissions, have set net zero target dates. 

And while this sounds like fantastic news, it is obvious that humanity is just not acting fast enough. But in each of the key areas regarding what is needed to reach net zero there are numerous things each one of us can do to make a difference. 

Living off the grid and maximizing our efficiency is how we do our part. But I know this is just not possible for most people. But what my lifestyle emphasizing is that it is entirely possible for most of us to live on far less that what we do. Furthermore, as long as I have been living like this, the fact that I am still learning emphasizes the fact that living sustainably is a lifestyle choice not a end point. 

So, make it happen. Pick one thing a week, or even one thing per month, that you can change about your lifestyle to reduce your impact. Few people stop to realize that the choices you make today will in many ways determine what your life is going to be like 5 years from now. So make the choice to be sustainable, change one thing at a time. Five years from now you will be grateful for all that you have learned.  

Well folks, that’s it for this week. I hope you all have enjoyed this episode and will join me again next week. Until then, always remember to live sustainably because this is how we build a better future.  

Patrick