You've probably read in the news recently that the Earth is warming and that we all need to reduce our 'carbon footprint'.
It may be taken for granted that everybody knows what this means when sometimes that isn't the case.
Here's everything you need to know about what is meant when we talk about a 'carbon footprint' and why this is important in tackling climate change...
What is a 'Carbon Footprint'?
Humans are causing climate change by releasing certain gases into the atmosphere in quantities too great for the Earth to absorb naturally. These gases accumulate in the atmosphere and trap in heat. This causes the global temperature to become warmer, just like in a greenhouse.
There are many different greenhouse gases which contribute to global-warming, with carbon dioxide (CO2) being the most important.
A ‘carbon footprint’ refers to the amount of carbon dioxide that is added to the atmosphere as a result of a particular activity, e.g. flying, driving, or heating your home.
Other gases that contribute to human caused climate change are Methane (CH4) which is mainly produced by the agricultural industry and is even more potent than CO2, Nitrous Oxide (N2O) and refrigerant gases.
How can we measure a carbon footprint and is there a sustainable level per person that we can aim for?
An exact carbon footprint is difficult to calculate as there are so many variables with regard to food production and manufacturing processes.
What is considered to be an achievable and sustainable carbon footprint varies for different communities around the world, but in Europe at the moment an annual ‘Ten Tonne Lifetstyle’ has been suggested. This is considered to be a responsible carbon footprint per person per year.
Due to factors like home heating, food production, and existing infrastructure it is considered to be extremely difficult for someone in the UK to get below this level under current circumstances.
However, a common sense approach can help people to understand the impacts of their actions and to make sensible decisions based on what we know.
Choosing to do something that requires no fossil fuels instead of choosing something that does is clearly the more ecologically sustainable choice. Walking instead of driving is an obvious example.
How can you reduce your carbon footprint?
Looking at the bigger picture is the best way to make decisions when trying to reduce your carbon footprint. For example when doing your weekly food shop, try to buy local ‘in season’ fruit and vegetables instead of going to a big supermarket which will probably have items that have been transported by plane from countries all over the world.
Similarly, a dairy- and meat-free diet will help significantly help to reduce your carbon footprint due to the many greenhouse gases involved in the livestock industry.
The type of regular transport you choose is another fairly obvious factor that will have a significant impact on your carbon footprint. Riding a bike or walking are the clear winners here. If driving is essential, you could consider getting an electric vehicle and powering it with renewable energy from the grid or straight from your own solar panels.
The big one to avoid wherever possible is flying. According to the excellent book by Mike Berners-Lee ‘How Bad Are Bananas?’, just one return flight from London to New York will exceed the annual carbon budget for one person for the whole year.
The 'Ten Tonne Lifestyle'
In his book, author Mike Berners-Lee looks at the ‘Ten Tonne Lifestyle’ as a realistic target which Europeans may aim toward in order reduce their carbon footprint to a sustainable level.
Adopting a 10 Tonne Lifestyle would mean reducing emissions to one third below the current UK average footprint of 15 tonnes per year.
Reducing your carbon footprint at home and at work
Energy efficiency is crucial to reducing the emissions from our homes and businesses. It is imperative that all properties in the UK are properly insulated in order to reduce energy waste as much as possible.
Landlords and estate agencies are required to ensure properties meet new minimum EPC regulations but enforcement of this regulation is inconsistent.
Switching lighting to energy saving LEDs is also a quick and easy way to achieve a huge reduction in energy use and corresponding energy bills.
Switching your energy supply to one that provides 100% clean renewable electricity is one of the easiest and quickest ways that you can make a big reduction to your carbon footprint.
If you have any ideas and tips for reducing your carbon footprint then please let us know in the comments section below.
How much carbon do you use?
If you’re interested in measuring your own carbon footprint then you can use the carbon calculator below to discover the true impact of your actions on the planet.
3 Comments
Ian Smith · 31/07/2019 at 17:09
There are natural mechanisms for absorbing carbon dioxide such as oceans > crustaceans > limestone and directly by some rocks. If one divides the capacity of these mechanisms by the current world population, given the variations in estimates of the capacity of the mechanisms, one gets figures in the range 1.5 – 2.5 tonnes per person per year – rather less than the 10 tonnes referred to. If everyone did this, the CO2 would not increase. With the IPCC report last Autumn and the realisation that we need to go beyond this and limit temperature increases to 1.5C, it is necessary to reduce the greenhouse gas inventory, hence the focus on zero carbon by 2050. Against this background, 10 tonnes already seems outdated.
Yash Surana · 27/02/2021 at 16:45
Carbon Footprint can be reduced and many startups help you offset your emissions through carbon credits and invest in cleaner future.
Carbon offsets are quite prevalent, especially after the Paris Agreement as continuous temperature rise and climate catastrophes are a major challenge. Many startups are cropping up in this domain, one of them being FreshFuture, which has portfolio of projects spanning across 3 pillars- (i) renewable energy [wind, solar], (ii) afforestation, (iii) community upliftment through biofue
April Ely · 10/08/2021 at 09:27
Carbon footprint can be reduced by the way you travel. Cycling and walking for instance. Even if you have far to travel, electric bikes can be a great alternative. I find that my Axon bike is great for this https://axonrides.com/