carbon neutral

American  

adjective

1. pertaining to or having achieved a state in which the net amount of carbon dioxide or other carbon compounds emitted into the atmosphere is reduced to zero because it is balanced by actions to reduce or offset these emissions.

   Since the administration installed solar panels, the campus has become carbon neutral;

   a carbon-neutral brewery.

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Other Word Forms

• carbon neutrality
  noun

Etymology

Origin of carbon neutral

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

carbon neutral

Bristol Airport has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2030 by switching to electric vehicles, and powering the site with solar panels and 22 new industrial scale heat pumps.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

The city is also working toward a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2045.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2026

France in December released a revamped roadmap to become carbon neutral by 2050.

From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026

It argues that burning wood is carbon neutral because when trees are cut down for fuel, new trees can be planted that effectively re-absorb the carbon dioxide released.

From BBC ● Feb. 10, 2025

California policymakers have outlined a plan for the state to be carbon neutral by 2045 and ban the sale of new, gas-powered cars by 2035.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2024