Net zero is a climate target that balances emissions by avoiding, reducing and compensating for greenhouse gas emissions until the net balance is zero. It is an important step, but not the endpoint. A system that causes exactly zero additional damage does not restore what has already been lost in soil, biodiversity and natural capital. Regenerative strategy is the logical next step: moving from doing less harm to actively creating value for the systems that make an economy possible.
What does net zero solve, and what does it leave unresolved?
Net zero is valuable because it sets a hard boundary for emissions and forces measurement and reduction. But the world does not start from zero. Soils are depleted, water systems are disrupted and biodiversity is declining. Stopping at zero means stopping before the work is complete. Restoration requires a positive balance, not a neutral balance.
What is the shift from sustainable to regenerative?
The difference lies in the ambition. Sustainability aims to reduce harm; regenerative practice aims to restore. Where sustainability tries to bring the counter back to zero, regenerative practice aims to make the counter positive again, in favour of the systems an organisation depends on.
Why does the doughnut economy change the starting point?
The doughnut economy shows why zero is not enough: an economy should remain within the ecological ceiling while also contributing to the social foundation. Regenerative thinking translates that principle into practice: meeting needs while strengthening the systems that make those needs possible.
Why is regenerative also economically logical?
As long as hidden costs remain outside the price, damage can appear cheap. A fair price calculation makes those external costs visible and reverses the logic: organisations that return value build a stronger position. Regenerative design makes that step concrete in products, concepts and programmes.
What is the role of New Economy?
New Economy supports organisations in moving beyond net zero with hard data as the basis and a regenerative vision as the direction. In this approach, a climate target is not an endpoint but a starting point for restoration. See Strategy and action plan.
Frequently asked questions
Net zero means avoiding, reducing and compensating for greenhouse gas emissions until the net balance is zero. It is an important step, but it does not restore damage that already exists.
Because the world is not at zero. Soils, water systems and biodiversity are already under pressure. A neutral balance keeps the situation from worsening but does not restore what has been damaged.
Regenerative practice goes beyond zero. It aims for a positive balance, where an organisation actively contributes to the restoration of ecological and social systems.
For a practical route beyond net zero, see Strategy and action plan or Regenerative design.