What does climate positive mean?

When one remove more CO₂ from the atmosphere than one emit, that’s being climate positive. Climate positive is a nicer sounding phrase than CO₂ negative, but it means the same.

To keep things clear we have to separate the concept of “climate” from the concept of “CO₂“. Both can be positive, negative or neutral.

It’s very easy, but it can be a little bit confusing first. When you remove more CO₂ than you emit it’s good for the climate, and therefore it’s a positive thing for the climate.

Carbon negative refer to the result we get when we subtract CO₂ removals from emissions. When we do the CO₂ mathematics and get a positive result it is bad because it leaves CO₂ in the air. If we end up with a negative figure it’s good because it removes CO₂ from the air. When you remove as much as you emit you’re net zero.

It’s this simple:

• If you emit 5 and remove 5, you’re net-zero. (5-5=0)
• If you emit 5 and remove 2, you’re CO₂ positive, which is bad for the climate. You’ve left 3 in the atmosphere (5-2=+3)
• If you emit 5 and remove 7, you’re CO₂ negative, which is good for the climate, hence climate positive. (5-7=-2)

Sometimes people in USA speak about being “carbon negative” which sounds like C negative, but what they really mean is CO₂ negative. When we speak about being CO₂ negative we also count other greenhouse gases by converting them to CO₂ equivalents (CO₂eq)

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