The worst is happening!
Global warming is increasing more rapidly than previously thought.
The planet is in crisis – from climate change due to rising levels of carbon emissions to the pollution in our oceans and rivers and the devastation of our land and forests. All wildlife, insects and marine animals along with our lives and our health and wellbeing are threatened. Our food chain and clean water supply are under threat too.
Whose responsibility is it to reduce global warming?
It is the responsibility of governments and local councils across the world to agree and implement policies and set the agenda to address the issues.
BUT
Individuals, households, local communities and businesses need to respond and embrace the changes required to move to a sustainable lifestyle by lowering their own carbon or environmental footprint.
What does the term Carbon Footprint mean?
It is the total amount of greenhouse gases, the majority of which is carbon, that is produced every day from all the things we do. All the food we eat has a carbon footprint including the tap and bottled water we drink. Watching TV, using your phone, it needs charging and using your computer. Washing, showering, laundering our clothes, household cleaning and everything we buy has a carbon footprint. Travelling by car, train, boat and plane. Bicycles have a carbon footprint too. The list is endless. The major contributors to a high carbon footprint are food, transport, heating your home and consumables.
Trying to keep our carbon footprint as low as possible means that we will each be contributing less to global warming. Vegetarians have a lower carbon footprint than meat eaters. People who walk and cycle or use buses to get around have a lower carbon footprint than other means of travel. And on it goes … Some countries eg. USA and China release a lot more carbon emissions than say Samoa.
Carbon footprints are usually reported in tonnes of emissions for example, per year, per kilometre travelled.
A tonne of carbon is equivalent to 2,500 miles in a petrol driven car, 120,000 smart phone charges or a single telephone pole.
There has never been a time to save energy more efficiently in our homes like there is now.
How can we reduce our carbon footprint without reducing our standard of living?
How can poorer countries increase their standard of living without increasing their carbon footprint? Is this idea too far out for us to imagine or too uncomfortable for us to think about? We need to address the issues for everyone’s future.
It is up to all of us to fix it!
How can we do this locally?
See the information on our Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC) Surveys and our Home Energy Kit. Also take the WWF Environmental/Carbon Footprint Calculator Test so that you have a rough idea of how your daily life impacts on our world. Our planet?
Join in with local groups that help to protect the environment and reduce global warming.
Read up on things and keep yourself informed. Aim for science based facts rather than conjecture or sensationalism.
Check out your Energy Suppliers
To see if they have a green energy tariff that matches the energy you buy with renewable energy. Some tariffs are 100% renewable, while others use a proportionate mix of renewable and non-renewable energy.
Help to ensure that councils, members of parliament and statutory bodies act responsibly to protect the environment and reduce global warming. Join in campaigns and sign petitions directed at your local MP and government and global organisations. See our page on national and global issues to get involved.
