In the international climate discourse, the goal of countries embracing net zero emissions reductions by 2050 has been heralded as showing high ambition.

Coming from the highest official in the United Nations, the secretary-general António Guterres himself, the general public can be forgiven for thinking that net zero emissions reductions by the world’s major “emitters” will save us from a planetary climate crisis.

Nothing can be further from the truth and requires deeper scrutiny as to why such net zero pledges will not be able to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C since pre-industrial levels.

While efforts to goad governments to do more on climate action are laudable, net zero emission targets by 2050 for rich countries and their corporations will not be enough as they are not ambitious enough.

What is needed to avert a permanent catastrophe is urgent and rapid action on the part of rich, developed countries to get to “real zero” emissions now and not “net zero” as this delays action for another three decades! This delay, the planet cannot afford.

In recent months, some northern governments and several big corporations, including major fossil fuel companies, have announced net zero targets.

Analysis by major civil society groups including ActionAid International, Friends of the Earth International and Third World Network have shown that such net-zero announcements are unambitious, do not go far enough and some are even dubious...