Abstract:

The article proposes the main scientific issues associated with achieving carbon neutrality goal. The scientific understanding needed for achieving carbon neutrality goal and its role in supporting the achievement of this goal are comprehensively discussed focusing on three aspects of natural changes in the Earth system, the relationships between carbon neutrality and the natural Earth system, as well as between carbon neutrality and human activities. It is indicated specifically that the scientific issues related to natural changes in the Earth system include the understanding of carbon cycle in the Earth natural system, the role played by natural processes in climate warming, and paleoclimate change. The scientific issues related to the relationship between carbon neutrality and the Earth natural system include the impact of carbon neutrality on the Earth natural system, and sensitivities of climate warming to greenhouse gas radiative forcing. The scientific issues related to the relationship between carbon neutrality and human activities include interactions of the Earth natural system with socio-economic system, local-scale atmospheric variations associated with clean energy development and its impacts, as well as geoengineering and its influences on the Earth natural system. It is pointed out that an in-depth understanding of these issues will offer an essential scientific basis for adapting and mitigating climate change reasonably and effectively, which can provide an important scientific support in achieving the goal of carbon neutrality.

Key words: Carbon neutrality, Air temperature control targets, Scientific issues