I wouldn't call emitted-somewhere-else zero-emission.
Zero emission is deciding not to take the trip.
I wouldn't call emitted-somewhere-else zero-emission.
Zero emission is deciding not to take the trip.
Isn't the reality that that is the case with extremely few nations? I'm not aware of more than a few that can claim to be at zero emissions on electricity.
[1] https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16K4gNhy_AN8Eg4Ov3z7p...
[2] https://www.eia.gov/cfapps/ipdbproject/iedindex3.cfm?tid=2&p...
Edit: Have a look at Norway - they could burn their own oil cheaply, but they are a bit smarter than that. Noteworthy is also Brazil - before someone comes in and says you need to have a fully developed rich economy to do this.
Edit2: Friendlier view link.
Sure, once the back filled area is thoroughly decomposed, you're at 0 ongoing emissions, but there's a big divot needing to be repaid already.
(And that's to say nothing of loss of habitat, arable/liveable land, etc.)
So my point is: The devil is in the details, blanket claims like "X is bad because CO2" doesn't really help. "Zero emission" may be a bad approximation, but I'd postulate that if you live in a place with very low fossil energy mix and use a car that has negligible direct and indirect emissions for each mile driven, you can claim "Zero emission" - otherwise the term becomes rather useless.
Plus even the most filthy coal power stations are more efficient than your current petrol/diesel car.