What does the term "carbon-neutral" refer to?

The term "carbon-neutral" refers to achieving a state where the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere is balanced by the amount that is removed from it. This balance can be reached through various methods, such as reducing emissions through energy efficiency and using renewable energy sources, as well as offsetting remaining emissions by investing in projects that absorb carbon dioxide, like reforestation or carbon capture technologies.

In contrast to this concept, emitting more carbon than is absorbed signifies a negative impact on the environment, which directly contradicts the idea of carbon neutrality. Completely eliminating carbon emissions is an ambitious goal but does not account for the practicality of certain activities, such as transportation and industrial processes, where some emissions are typically unavoidable. Lastly, using only renewable energy sources is a step towards reducing carbon emissions but does not inherently guarantee carbon neutrality unless the balance of emissions and absorptions is achieved.