With COP26 just around the corner, you might begin to hear a lot of talk about the global net zero target. 

World leaders and delegates are set to descend on Glasgow at the end of October to establish goals to limit climate change over the next ten years. 

It will be 12-days of tough negotiations on everything from energy to finance, as the world tries to achieve global net zero. 

But what exactly is global net zero, and why is it so important to COP26?

Here's what you need to know...

What is global net zero?

Global net zero is a state in which the level of greenhouse gases being removed from the atmosphere is the same as the level of greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere. 

It means that the balance would remain at 0, rather than at the moment when the amount of greenhouse gas emissions going into the atmosphere far exceeds the amount being removed. 

Net zero is also sometimes referred to as carbon neutral. 

Why is global net zero important?

Global net zero is so important because it is the state at which global warming will stop. 

The Paris Agreement outlines the goal of preventing the world's average temperature from rising more than 1.5-2 degrees. 

The closer we can get to global net zero, the easier it will be to slow global warming. 

What is the difference between net zero and gross zero?

Net zero refers to achieving a balance in the amount of greenhouses gases going into and coming out of the atmosphere. 

A gross zero target on the other hand would mean stopping all emissions. 

Gross zero is therefore a much less realistic goal - this is why the target is global net zero.