KNOW YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
CARBON FOOTPRINT; What
Is It?
Carbon dioxide (CO2), the most prolific greenhouse gas is emitted from a variety of sources, the most high-impact of which is the burning of fossil fuels. The amount of energy we consume is based upon the lifestyle we lead and is a direct measure of our individual contribution to CO2 emissions in the atmosphere. This is known as our Carbon Footprint. It is most commonly measured in tonnes of CO2 per year.
If all the CO2 we emit is reabsorbed by the Earth’s natural systems, such as forests then it is possible to have a carbon neutral lifestyle.
Global Warming is a direct result of the massive fossil fuel burning which began 250 years ago at the start of the industrial revolution. Today our lifestyles are so dependent on fossil fuels that we can’t even switch on a light bulb without adding to the problem.
If we are all part of the problem then potentially we can also, all be part of the solution. Two factors are required, awareness and action. Begin by becoming aware of your Carbon Footprint and then decide where you can make changes in your lifestyle to reduce your emissions.
CALCULATE YOUR CARBON
FOOTPRINT
The average CO2 emissions for a resident
of the U.K is 10 tonnes/year. The average person living in the
The maximum emissions each person on the planet can emit if we are to become carbon neutral (all emissions reabsorbed) and thereby stabilise climate is in the region of 1 tonne per person per year. This is based upon stabilisation to within a global temperature rise of 2C. See Climate Change Facts.
This model which proposes equitable distribution of emissions amongst all the Earth’s peoples was proposed by the Global Commons Institute in 1990 and has since gained wide acceptance. See Contraction and Convergence.
To calculate your carbon footprint use the table for carbon budgeting provided. (Source; How We Can Save the Planet, Mayer Hillman)
You will need information about your annual car mileage and household gas/oil and electricity bills.
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CALCULATE YOUR CARBON
FOOTPRINT
Household and individual carbon budgeting (From; Mayer Hillman; How we can Save the Planet)
Annual carbon dioxide emissions (kgCO2)
Kilograms average average
ENERGY USE co-efficient household individual YOU
In the household
for each kilowatt hour
electricity* x 0.45 2,000 870
gas x
0.19 3,400 1,480
for each litre
heating oil x 2.975
In travel
For each kilometre
Petrol car: as driver x 0.20
2,420 1,050
Diesel car: as driver x 0.14
Rail: Intercity x 0.11
Other services x 0.16 200 90
Underground x 0.07
Bus:
Outside
Express coach: x 0.08
Bicycle: x 0.00 0
Walking: x 0.00
Air **: Within
Outside
TOTAL kilograms CO2
12,460 5,420
Tonnes CO2 12.5 5.4
* The calculation of the carbon dioxide emission co-efficient is based on the current fuel mix for electricity generation.
** Although varying by region and by altitude, these carbon dioxide emissions have been multiplied by an average factor of three to take account of the warming effect equivalent of other greenhouse gases in the upper atmosphere.
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CONTRACTION AND CONVERGENCE
(C & C)
Getting well over 100 countries to agree on reducing CO2
emissions is one of the greatest challenges we face. Even with the 34 countries
who took part in the original Kyoto
Protocol Agreement at the Earth Summit in 1992, most considered themselves
to be a special case! The Agreement has taken 12 years to ratify and only now
in February 2005 is becoming legally binding. The US and
1n 1990 Aubrey Meyer from The Global Commons Institute put forward the case for an equitable sharing of carbon credits based on maximum sustainable CO2 emissions. The proposal emphasised the need for all countries to be allocated an equal per capita share, not just because this is morally correct but because it’s the only way to get agreement with so many countries.
This low emission rate translates to 1 tonne CO2 per person
per year. Clearly with the
Within this system there is also a facility for the trading of credits between countries. If one country lives within its allocation, the surplus can be sold to a country which exceeds theirs.