What does 'net zero' actually mean for the environment?

Net zero means we stop adding too much heat to the Earth, so it can stay comfortable for everyone.

Imagine your room is like the Earth. When you leave the lights on and the TV running all day, you’re adding more heat to the room. That’s like what humans are doing with carbon dioxide, which acts like invisible heat traps in the air. Over time, the room gets hotter, just like our planet.

"Net zero" means we balance out how much heat we add and how much we take away. It's like when you put your hand on a warm cup of soup and then hold it over ice, some heat moves from the soup to the ice, but not all of it.

If we keep adding more heat, the Earth will get too hot for many animals and plants. They might move away or even disappear. But if we reach net zero, we give the Earth a chance to cool down, like turning off the heater in your room so it can settle into a comfortable temperature again.