Net Zero 2050: A Dangerous Illusion

Net Zero by 2050 is not a scientifically-based target but a dangerous illusion that prolongs fossil fuel use and relies on risky offsets, delaying urgent action to prevent catastrophic climate warming.

The briefing paper “Net Zero 2050”: A Dangerous Illusion critiques the widely promoted Net Zero 2050 emissions (NZ2050) strategy as a false solution that enables prolonged fossil fuel dependence well beyond 2050. It argues that NZ2050 locks in an unsustainable business-as-usual economic model reliant on risky carbon offsets, such as bioenergy and land-use changes, which threaten food security and ecosystems. The paper warns that this approach is supported by fossil fuel interests and some climate investor groups, yet it dangerously underestimates the urgency of immediate climate action.

The paper stresses that focusing on long-term targets like NZ2050 encourages procrastination when immediate and drastic emission reductions are critical to prevent crossing climate tipping points already triggered at 1.2°C warming. It calls for rapid decarbonisation and active removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to return to safer climate conditions, emphasising the need for a “big minus” in emissions, not just net zero. The paper rejects the notion that NZ2050 is sufficient, warning that it will fail to protect vital ecosystems, including coral reefs and Arctic environments, and risks severe societal and ecological collapse globally.