The earliest media reference to the term "net zero" (in relation to emissions) that I can find searching through the archives comes from a quote dated 6 Feb 1998 in a Dow Jones newswire report.
The source of the quote?
BP's then-CEO John Browne
The source of the quote?
BP's then-CEO John Browne
Comments
(but still v interesting - and tellingly - to see the context of its earliest use)