REAL ZERO EUROPE

Net zero is not zero!

Real Zero Europe is a campaign calling on the European Union to deliver real emissions reductions and real solutions to the climate crisis, instead of corporate greenwashed 'net zero' targets.

Why Real Zero Europe?

Photo: Boerenforum / Via Campesina Flanders

The European Union has a target to achieve ‘net zero’ by 2050. But ‘net zero’ is not zero - it shifts the focus and burdens away from the essential work of phasing out fossil fuels, including rethinking fossil fuel-dependent industries, such as agroindustry. Instead, ‘net zero’ diverts attention and resources from real solutions.

Failing to cut emissions significantly in the near term while handing out new subsidies to fossil fuel and other harmful industries is an extremely dangerous gamble and an irresponsible, unjust choice.

Photo: Bianka Csenki / Artivists

Dangerous distractions are being allowed in all sectors. And they all have something in common:

They delay deep emissions cuts necessary to address the climate crisis.
They legitimise companies and governments to keep expanding fossil fuel production and harmful extractive activities while claiming to do climate action.
They divert attention and resources from real transformation, while EU Member States impose austerity on healthcare, education, and environmental protection.
They negatively impact other important goals, such as protecting nature, public health, local communities, and social justice, including land rights and food sovereignty.

Real Zero Europe…

Pushes for a Real Zero emissions strategy and actions in Europe;

Exposes the lies and removes the social license used to promote dangerous distractions that obstruct real emissions reductions across sectors

We…

Make the case for Real Zero and challenge the ‘net zero’ agenda in Europe and the related harmful projects in Europe and abroad;

Expose and debunk policies and projects that promote dangerous distractions.

Who Are We?

Real Zero Europe brings together climate, environmental, social and economic justice organisations and networks.

The campaign is led by:

The campaign was launched in 2022 with the support of over 200 climate justice and environment campaigners, food and farm movements, development and faith-based groups, and experts across Europe and beyond, calling for the rejection of the European Union’s plan for a framework to certify carbon removal offsets.

See the full list and original statement here.

We are calling on European governments to design and implement a Real Zero climate strategy instead of a corporate-captured ‘net zero’ strategy and more dangerous distractions.

Europe has a huge historical responsibility to support a just transition for the Global South, and to rapidly bring emissions down to Real Zero at home.

Real Zero Europe means:

Our Demands

A rapid, just, and equitable phase-out of fossil fuels. No new fossil projects, and a rapid phase-out of existing projects, avoiding dangerous climate distractions and techno-fixes