The world has a goal to reach net zero emissions. Our platform, informed by leading climate researchers and hosted by the University of Oxford, brings together principles and policies, practical tools, and progress tracking to help businesses and policymakers achieve that goal.
Principles & Policies
PrACTICAL TOOLS
PROGRESS TRACKING
How to set a net zero target
As net zero targets are being set, questions arise about how current net zero targets align. We present criteria based on a summary of current practices, identifying areas of convergence and divergence.
tools for setting and achieving a net zero target
Browse our library of the most relevant tools helping institutions of all kinds set and achieve their net zero targets.
GLOBAL NET ZERO STOCKTAKE
For an understanding of progress to net zero, read the first systematic review of net zero commitments by countries, sub-national governments, and major corporations around the globe.Â
What is Net Zero?  Â
The world has a goal to reach net zero emissions.
Our platform brings together principles and policies, practical tools, and progress tracking to help achieve that goal.
PRINCIPLES & POLICIES
How to set a net zero target
As net zero targets are being set, questions arise about how current net zero targets align. We present criteria based on a summary of current practices, identifying areas of convergence and divergence.
Practical Tools
tools for setting and achieving a net zero target
Browse our library of the most relevant tools helping institutions of all kinds set and achieve their net zero targets.
PROGRESS TRACKING
Global Net Zero Stocktake
For an understanding of progress to net zero, read the first systematic review of net zero commitments by countries, sub-national governments, and major corporations around the globe.Â
WHAT IS NET ZERO?
Net zero refers to a state in which the greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere are balanced by removal out of the atmosphere.Â
The term net zero is important because – for CO2 at least – this is the state at which global warming stops.
The Urgency of zero
All emissions, including those from the most difficult sectors (e.g. food, agriculture, aviation and mining), must be tackled urgently to effectively combat climate change.
Carbon dioxide removal
The active removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere through Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technologies is, alongside significant emissions reductions, central to achieving net zero by 2050 and limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5°C above pre-Industrial levels.
CARBON OFFSETTING
Carbon offsetting is a widespread tool in efforts to achieve net zero emissions. But what types of offsets are aligned with pathways to net zero and under what conditions should they be used?
NET ZERO & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Reaching a durable net zero will require global transitions that are both sustainable and equitable. Net zero plans need to be aligned with complementary sustainability objectives and enforced using rigorous quality standards, centring fairness and prosperity.
TRACKING OF NET ZERO COMMITMENTS
Oxford Net Zero is part of a pioneering team surveying significant entities to track net zero targets globally, aiming to increase transparency and accountability of net zero targets pledged by nations, states and regions, cities and companies.
LEARN MORE ABOUT NET ZERO
WHAT IS NET ZERO?
Net zero refers to a state in which the greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere are balanced by removal out of the atmosphere. But there’s more to it than that: explore related terms, key issues and challenges relating to net zero and how we can get it right.
Net zero regulation stocktake
A new report published by Oxford Net Zero presents a comprehensive ‘stocktake’ of developments in net-zero regulation across the G20 in 2023.
ONLINE COURSE FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS
Our new online course provides a comprehensive overview of net zero, including its challenges, while exploring how public servants can promote the transition to net zero.
GLOBAL YOUTH CLIMATE TRAINING
A collaboration between Oxford Net Zero and the Global Youth Coalition, giving youth the knowledge and tools to engage in the UNFCCC system. This programme is closed to applicants, but previous sessions can be watched online.
Events
Webinar: Smith School COP27 Round Up
Event date: November 17, 2022
Thu, 17 November 2022, 11:30 – 12:30 GMT, Online, Register here. Our expert panel will share their highlights of COP27 and take stock of progress. They will address the most significant developments as well as identifying areas which missed ... Read more
Public Lecture: The Atmospheric Physics Behind Net Zero by Prof Myles Allen
Event date: November 22, 2022
Tuesday, 22 Nov 2022, 18:00 Venue: David Game College & online (hybrid) Before net zero, climate policy was all about contraction and convergence of emissions between rich and poor to achieve, in the words of the Rio Convention, ... Read more
Webinar: Geological carbon storage: Barriers, (mis)conceptions and opportunities
Event date: October 31, 2022
Mon, 31 October 2022, 16:00 – 17:00 GMT. Join experts as they discuss the technical, social and policy factors affecting the upscaling of geological carbon storage. Sign up on Eventbrite. In order to keep average global warming to less ... Read more
Webinar: The Path to Net Zero Integrity: From Voluntary Best Practice to Policy
Event date: October 21, 2022
Fri, 21 October 2022, 14:00 – 15:30 BST. How can we drive ambition for net zero regulation? Join as experts discuss the key issues. Sign up on Eventbrite. Corporate net zero commitments are on the rise. By the ... Read more
Webinar: Net Zero and Climate Change: A Conversation with African Experts
Event date: October 11, 2022
Tue, 11 October 2022, 10:00 – 11:30 BST. What should net zero action on climate change look like for Africa? Join us for a conversation with African experts Sign up on Eventbrite This is a key decade for Africa as it will determine the ... Read more
Webinar: Net Zero Pathways for Brazil
Event date: September 26, 2022
Mon, 26 September 2022, 16:00 – 17:00 BST. Join experts as they discuss net zero pathways for Brazil, a key player in the fight against climate change. Click here to register on Eventbrite. This event is hybrid - choose to attend ... Read more
Latest news
Call for participants: “Unlocking the power of youth to develop equity in net-zero governance”
Oxford Net Zero's Engagement Team have an open call for youth aged 18-35 years old to participate in a new 8-month long research project to embed equity criteria into net-zero governance. There is perhaps no single demographic that will be ... Read more
Job opening – Data Lead: Net Zero Tracker
This is an exciting opportunity to be at the heart of the project providing crucial data for assessing net zero commitments around the world – https://www.zerotracker.net. The Net Zero Tracker is built on the dedicated and organised effort of ... Read more
Findings from Scope 3 workshops hosted by Oxford Net Zero and Grantham Institute at Imperial College London published
The Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) is the largest validator of corporate net-zero targets, representing nearly 40% of the global economy by market capitalisation, through assessment against its Corporate Net Zero Standard. In April ... Read more
Job openings: three new post-doc roles researching net zero aviation (now closed)
The School of Geography and the Environment and the Department of Earth Sciences are recruiting three Post-doctoral Research Associates (PDRAs) to form a cohort of researchers working on net zero aviation. The roles are: Post-Doctoral ... Read more
Oxford Net Zero report assesses the voluntary standards landscape
Oxford Net Zero’s Engagement Team have released a new report today, comprehensively assessing guidance for net zero across 37 different guidance documents, disclosure instruments and assessment frameworks. The team developed more than sixty ... Read more
Job Opening at ONZ: Youth Climate Training Assistant
The Oxford Net Zero Engagement Team (based at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment) is looking for a motivated individual to support the team 8 hours a week for 12 weeks (96 hours in total) in the second delivery of the Youth ... Read more
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