Could a new kind of carbon budget ensure top emitters pay their dues?

Major Greenhouse Gas Emitters To Face “Net-Zero Carbon Debt” for Exceeding 1.5°C Climate Target

A team of climate researchers suggests that nations with the largest historical contribution to greenhouse gas emissions should be held most accountable should global warming surpass the critical 1.5°C threshold. This accountability would be assigned through a proposed “net-zero carbon debt” mechanism, applied to countries that have discharged more than their equitable portion of emissions.

Encouraging Climate Responsibility

The primary objective of this “net-zero carbon debt” concept is to motivate countries bearing greater responsibility for exceeding the 1.5°C limit to undertake reparative measures. These actions could include investing in technologies for atmospheric carbon dioxide removal or providing support to assist less developed nations in accelerating their transitions to net-zero emissions.