NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

By Kristina Partsinevelos

Countries and corporations around the globe are talking up their climate credentials, pledging to achieve “net-zero” carbon emissions or become “carbon neutral” in the next few decades. But when we delve into the details, those pledges seldom live up to their promises.

“I think there’s an increasing momentum behind genuine commitments to getting to net zero. I think along with that, there’s always going to be some element of brainwashing,” explains Christopher Greig, senior research scientist at the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment at Princeton University. “There are people who are basically being forced into making these commitments by shareholder pressure.”

Photo courtesy of mad mags.