Carbon Dioxide - Carbon Reduction

Carbon Dioxide is an inevitable product of the way we all live today. It is produced primarily through the burning of fossil fuels in:

• Electricity generation
• The powering of vehicles, trains and aircraft
• Home heating and cooking (gas, wood, coal, oil).

It is widely accepted amongst a global coalition of meteorologists and associated scientists that the Earth’s atmosphere is warming rapidly and that this change has been brought about by the activities of humans.

Put simply, gases released into the atmosphere by human activity are forming an insulating barrier around the Earth, preventing the natural release of heat from our atmosphere. There are a number of gases that are held responsible for this process, which is sometimes referred to as ‘the greenhouse effect’. While methane and other gases contribute to the problem, the chief culprit, by virtue of the volumes produced, is carbon dioxide.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) co-ordinates the review and assessment of the science of climate change. In its fourth assessment report (2007), the IPCC concluded that:

"We can be very confident that the net effect of human activity since 1750 has been one of warming."

Current climate models suggest that global temperatures could warm from between 1.4 to 5.8°C over the next 100 years. The potential social, environmental and economic costs associated with this are huge.

The Kyoto Protocol, negotiated by more than 160 nations, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by setting legally binding emissions reduction targets for developed countries. Under Kyoto, the UK’s target is to cut its emissions by 12.5 percent below 1990 levels by 2008-2012. However, the UK government is convinced that the UK can and should go further. The Kyoto Protocol is only the first step. The Government has therefore set a domestic goal to go further than the Kyoto commitment and cut the UK’s emissions of carbon dioxide by 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2010.

While many of us would probably welcome the most obvious feature of global warming, i.e., warmer weather, it is not that simple. Whatever the eventuality, it seems very likely that human activities will have a major impact on the local and global climate in the 21st Century. There are many other possible serious local and global consequences that are not immediately apparent and far less appealing:

• More extreme weather, including prolonged dry spells, flooding, severe storms, extreme heat and cold and the consequences that these weather patterns have for agriculture, human habitation and property damage in the UK and abroad
• Increase in desertification
• Spread of tropical diseases to previously unaffected areas. 

You Can Make a Difference

Offsetting Works.  It is not going to be possible for most people or businesses to completely eliminate their carbon footprints.  After taking all sensible carbon reduction steps, it makes absolute sense to ‘neutralise’ or offset those emissions that it has not been possible to remove.  To do otherwise is simply to ignore our contribution to climate change.  You can make a difference by investing in one of co2balance’s managed projects.  These projects are entirely additional, i.e. they would not otherwise happen but for our clients’ funds and comprise:

• Renewable Energy;
• Energy Efficiency; and
• Afforestaion
  

All projects are operated to the highest standard and are subject to the CarbonZero Guarantee.  This means that no matter what happens, co2balance guarantees to offset the amount of greenhouse gases for which it has been paid.

Our simple yet robust CO₂ calculators, can help you obtain an idea of how much carbon dioxide you are responsible for producing each year.  Business should complete the Contact Form in order to see how we can help improve understanding of you carbon footprint.  Some of our services to businesses are free of charge and others are charged for on a consultancy basis.