How do we stop global warming? We know that excess carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere causes global warming, but when we stop emitting CO2–a goal known as net zero—will warming stop at the same time? Our best understanding is that no more CO2 emissions means no more warming, but we are not completely sure about this. The extra change in temperature after we reach net zero emissions is called the zero emissions commitment. In this article, we explain how understanding the way heat and carbon move around the Earth is key to working out whether we will get more global warming after net zero, see some cooling, or perhaps experience no change in Earth’s temperature at all.How do we stop global warming? We know that excess carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere causes global warming, but when we stop emitting CO2–a goal known as net zero—will warming stop at the same time? Our best understanding is that no more CO2 emissions means no more warming, but we are not completely sure about this. The extra change in temperature after we reach net zero emissions is called the zero emissions commitment. In this article, we explain how understanding the way heat and carbon move around the Earth is key to working out whether we will get more global warming after net zero, see some cooling, or perhaps experience no change in Earth’s temperature at all.