Carbon neutrality, although often used interchangeably with “net zero,” refers to achieving a balance between CO2 emitted and CO2 absorbed from the atmosphere and includes a very different methodology than to achieve “net zero.” It counterbalances your company’s carbon dioxide emissions by neutralizing the same amount of carbon or greenhouse gasses. In very simple words, it means emissions produced and emissions neutralized are equivalent.

It is achieved when the total amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of an individual’s or organization’s activities is balanced out by an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide being removed from the atmosphere through carbon offset projects or carbon credits. In other words, carbon neutrality means that the net impact of an individual’s or organization’s carbon emissions is zero.

So, as a main distinguisher, while carbon neutrality specifically focuses on balancing out carbon dioxide emissions, net zero takes a broader approach and aims to eliminate all greenhouse gas emissions.