What is a carbon footprint?

Everyone in the world has a carbon footprint. It is a measurement of the amount of CO2 emissions that each person is responsible for as a consequence of their day-to-day activities – or “carbon” for short. This is measured in metric tonnes of C02.

Activities come into 2 categories:

Direct – heating the home, driving a car, flying on holiday etc
Indirect – consuming goods and services such as food, bank accounts etc

The sustainable average footprint for the planet is reckoned to be about 1 metric tonne per person.

How do we measure up?

As you’d expect the developed countries have larger footprints (more cars, bigger houses, more consumption). Thus the average American has a footprint of 19.8 tonnes closely followed by the average Australian at 18 tonnes.

Currently in developing countries like China and India the average is relatively low at 3.2tonnes and 1.8tonnes respectively. However these will rise rapidly if the use of fossil fuels is not reduced very swiftly or methods of carbon capture implemented.

The principle of “contraction and convergence” says that developed “wealthy” nations such as the UK and USA should reduce emissions by more whilst the emerging nations grow emissions by less in order to achieve an acceptable average whilst being equitable.

In the UK the average is about 10.3 tonnes per person a year. If we are to reduce UK carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 (the figure we and many others think should be in the Climate Change Bill) then our footprints need to shrink dramatically – about 3% per annum on a reducing basis from 1990.

In what proportions do we typically use carbon at the moment?

The average UK person is reckoned to use carbon in the following proportions:

Biggest Culprits?

On first reading it’s energy in the home.

Looking at that average 10.3 tonnes it follows that approximately 2.78 tonnes comes from our use of gas and electricity in the home. This is why a UK push to increased use of renewable energy will make such a difference. It is estimated that the UK has the potential with wind and tidal power to generate a large proportion of its energy from renewables. However we are severely lagging. 

But hold on one moment…

Air travel may not seem much at 6%. However, high altitude aviation has a greenhouse effect over and above that of carbon dioxide alone, but this is not reflected in government indicators. The factor is reckoned to be close to 3. This means that if you take a winter break to Florida the global warming effect is equivalent to emitting about 4.85 tonnes C02 i.e. close to the total of average direct emissions and 1.75 times your home emissions.

Driving is bad, right?

Well not that bad really -  compared with flying. You would have to drive  a new model Ford Focus 1.6 for 30,000kms before you eclipsed the global warming effect of that cheap flight to Florida.

So how on earth are we going to meet these reduction targets?

Now in case you are getting a bit depressed here the reductions don’t mean ceasing to live and enjoy life. Yes we do on average consume more than our planet will sustain (about 3 planets worth it is reckoned) but the reduction can come from a combination of government regulation, behaviour change and new technology.

Examples of regulation:  

• • Aviation is likely to be included in the European Emissions Trading Scheme and thus the era of really cheap flights is probably over quite soon. Given that most people admit that flying is too cheap that’s maybe not such a bad thing…
  • Within the EU car emissions regulations are getting tougher
  • The Climate Change Bill will hopefully set tough and legally binding CO2 reduction targets for the UK

 

 

• • Cut down on binge flying – it has a massive impact!
  • Switch to a green tariff
  • Waste less heat and electricity in the home
  • Walking and cycling on some shorter journeys
  • Buy less goods that are flown around the world

Examples of new technology:

• • Renewable electricity sourced from wind, tide and solar power
  • Lower emissions cars
  • Boilers that recycle surplus heat
  • Low emission light bulbs
  • Standby free electrical goods

BUT WE NEED TO DO IT QUICK!

Intrigued enough to measure your own footprint?

If you want to do a proper job (and have a little patience) then we recommend using Resurgence’s on-line calculator at http://www.resurgence.org/carboncalculator/index.htm

If you want to take a quick look at your direct emissions then try the official calculator Act on CO2 at http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk/index.html

If you want to study flying emissions in a bit more detail take a look at
www.chooseclimate.org/

Have a look at the way we might change to Zero Carbon Britain