Carbon Dioxide where does it come from?
The world is currently a fossil fuel based environment, in so much as all our daily activities rely on the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) to produce the energy that powers our way of existence. It is the transfer of fossil fuels from the ground to the atmosphere by way of burning them that is producing the massive escalation of CO2 in the air, which in turn cooks our planet. Ironic isn’t it the more we cool our houses with air conditioners the more coal is burnt to provide the electricity to work the air conditioners and the more we heat up the earth. A rather vicious cycle that can be broken and must be arrested to save our planet for current and future generations.
Australia and CO2
Australia is one of the world’s top 20 emitters of CO2 and on a per capita basis we are recognised by some NGO’s as the highest globally (as Australia is the world’s largest coal exporter). We produce so much CO2 because of the high proportion of coal we use for electricity generation. In fact we consume ten times more energy per capita than the average Indian and five times more than the average Chinese and a whopping 50% more than the average European.
Source: Australia’s Emissions on the Rise, Australian Conservation Foundation.
What is a carbon footprint?
The carbon footprint is a representation of the impact human activities on the environment in terms of the total amount of greenhouse gases produced, by the way we generate and use fossil fuel based energy. It is measured in units of carbon dioxide. Calculated for one person, it is a measure of the impact we make individually on the earth by the choices we make regarding our lifestyles.
A carbon footprint measurement includes fossil fuel energy related emissions from all human activities such as heat, light, power, refrigeration and all transport related emissions from cars, freight and distribution, to air travel.
By measuring the carbon footprint through such tools as carbon calculators, we obtain a better sense of what our individual impact is and which parts of our lifestyle deserves the greatest attention.
What is carbon neutral?
A carbon neutral state is one that reflects zero CO2 emissions. As this is extremely difficult to achieve in a fossil fuel based society, carbon neutrality can be achieved by calculating our carbon footprint and buying the equivalent amount of carbon offsets or credits. However the primary emphasis should always be on reducing our individual emissions first. WFCA recommend the transfer to 100% accredited green power as the first step to going carbon neutral. After this has been achieved the residual CO2 emissions can be offset by purchasing high quality carbon credits. By voluntarily incorporating the cost of greenhouse gas emissions into day-to-day operations, an individual or business can obtain a sense of the true cost of their activities on the environment; i.e. the higher the fiscal amount required to offset the CO2 produced the greater the carbon footprint.
What are carbon credits?
The production of CO2 from daily activities results in a surplus of CO2 in the atmosphere. Conversely activities that produce the same outcome but result in a reduction (or non production) in CO2 create a carbon credit. For example a wind or solar farm that generates energy for use as electricity are known as renewable energy sources and they produce carbon credits, as there mode of energy production withholds CO2 emissions, in comparison to coal fired electricity plants. Thus carbon credits are measured in units of certified emissions reductions (CERs) and each CER is equivalent to one tonne of CO2 reduction. So in effect one carbon credit equals one tonne of CO2 that has been withheld from entering the atmosphere.
Carbon credits are extremely important as they ascribe a value to withholding the pollutant CO2. They are also very important as they offer a mechanism whereby individuals and organisations can purchase carbon credits to offset their CO2 emissions. By doing this they can support the development of non polluting industries such as renewable energy sources. For example a high quality carbon credit is produced from a wind or solar plant, which produces electricity without emitting CO2. By purchasing a carbon credit from this source you are in effect creating much needed demand for renewable energy. In the absence of strong governmental support for a renewable energy sector individuals and organisations need to support these initiatives to increase demand and thus funding for a renewable and sustainable energy sector. Please note however that highly qualified NGO’s do not recognise credits from non energy sectors, such as tree planting schemes, as they incorrectly suggest that we do not have the means to clean up the energy sector, which we do. However NGO’s do recognise that trees act as carbon sinks and will have a role to play in removing CO2 from the atmosphere, but new tree planting schemes have along lead times (30 to 50 years to grow) and success is not always guaranteed due to depressed rainfall (as a result of climate change). There is an urgent need however to stop land clearing and deforestation as these activities contribute to the release of upon burning which is estimated to be as much as 18% of the total global CO2 emissions.
WFCA recommends that as a measure of last resort i.e. when members have decreased their CO2 emissions by as much as possible, then we suggest high quality credits can be purchased from Climate Friendly. See Friends of WFCA.
