What does 'net zero' really mean?

When talking about climate change, the term net zero has become popular with politicians over the last few years. More than 130 countries have now pledged to go net zero to help slow global warming. Reaching net zero means reducing the amount of emissions as much as possible and removing any that remain from the atmosphere. We hear from communities in South Africa, where the government plans to reach net zero by 2050. But the country is heavily tied to coal and faces several challenges around employment and energy security. And while politicians make their net zero announcements, the United Nations projects that emissions will continue to rise even with the current pledges politicians have announced. What does net zero mean and could it help climate change?

Presenters Jordan Dunbar and Kate Lamble are joined by: Dr Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN climate change high-level champion for Egypt

Lola Vallejo, climate programme director at the IDDRI

Dr Benny Peiser, director of the Global Warming Policy Forum

Clarification: this programme includes a contribution from Dr Benny Peiser, director of the Global Warming Policy Forum. Within the programme, we should have also said that the Forum questions climate change science and the cost of policies to tackle it.

Reporter: Zinhle Kanyane Researcher: Natasha Fernandes Producer: Darin Graham Series producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Nicola Addyman Sound engineer: Tom Brignell Production coordinators: Siobhan Reed and Sophie Hill