Carbon Neutral

Carbon neutral means that the amount of carbon dioxide a person, company, or country puts into the air is balanced by the amount they take out. Everything we do, from driving a car to heating a home, adds carbon dioxide to the air. Going carbon neutral is one way to help fight climate change.

Reducing and Balancing

The first step to being carbon neutral is to reduce how much carbon dioxide you produce. Using less energy, driving less, and eating less meat all help. For the carbon dioxide that cannot be avoided, people can plant trees or support projects that capture carbon from the air. This balancing act is what makes something carbon neutral.

Carbon Neutral Goals

Many countries and companies have set goals to become carbon neutral. Some want to reach this goal by 2050. Schools and cities are also working on it. Students can help by saving energy, recycling, and encouraging their communities to use clean power. Every step toward carbon neutrality helps the planet.

Fun Facts

• A single tree can absorb about 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.
• Iceland aims to be one of the first countries to become completely carbon neutral.
• Some airlines let passengers pay extra to offset the carbon from their flights by planting trees.

Did You Know?

If every person in the United States planted just one tree, it would offset about 5 million tons of carbon dioxide each year!