What is a Carbon Footprint?
Carbon footprint refers to the amount of greenhouse gases generated by our actions, and a measure of how much our actions contribute to the overall concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
It is this rising concentration that is causing Global Warming.
For centuries the greenhouse gas concentration level has been relatively static. However, since the industrial revolution, it has been rising rapidly.
This can be seen from the now-famous graph below, closely followed by the temperature increase shown by the second graph.
Click to enlarge!
Ctedit: Our World in Data
Credit: Wikicommons
Most activities the world engages in use energy which also creates greenhouse gases. The warming this causes can also result in rapidly increasing levels as permafrost, that for instance, melts and releases methane trapped and becomes trapped for centuries.
Credit: Adobe Stock: m.malinika #422342500
The graphic shows the activities which contribute to increasing greenhouse gases.
To keep the rise in global temperatures at a safe level, we need to keep the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at, or about 430 parts per million. The present level is 415.01 parts per million. Currently, the concentration of CO2 alone is rising by an average of 2.4 parts per million per year.
This is why carbon neutrality by 2030 is felt to be so important.
What is our own carbon footprint and what can we do about it?
We contribute to the overall carbon footprint in almost everything we do, whether it is heating our home, choosing our mode of transport, choosing what we buy, and what we eat.
The current average carbon footprint per person in the UK is 12.7 tonnes of CO2e. This is a measure of all the greenhouse gases we each produce rolled into one. The current average target we should be aiming for is around 2.7 tonnes of CO2e. That’s quite a reduction to achieve. Luckily there are people out there to help you.
The best personal carbon footprint calculator we have come across is Giki Zero, click here to try it yourself.
It helps investigate every aspect of your life and offers suggestions for things you can try that you may not have thought of.