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Climate neutral/Climate neutrality (IPCC definition)
A state in which human activities result in no net effect on the climate system. Achieving such a state would require balancing of residual emissions with emission (carbon dioxide) removal as well as accounting for regional or local biogeophysical effects of human activities that, for example, affect surface albedo or local climate. See also net-zero CO2 emissions.
Comment: this term is defined by the IPCC as being more or less the same as net-zero. However, a more up-to-date definition of net-zero is that provided by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). Since this is the organisation by which UPM and many other organisations are setting their carbon targets, it is appropriate to use their clearer distinction between carbon/climate neutral and net zero – which sees net-zero as a global climate goal which is translated into science-based targets at the corporate level.
For practical purposes in UPM, climate or carbon neutral can be used at the product/process level, whereas reference to net-zero should be limited to use at the business-wide level (i.e., with regard to setting targets for the organisation).
Carbon, Climate and Life Cycle Assessment