A workshop based on our community’s response to QE’s invitation to calculate individual footprints using the WWF calculator. The aim was to start people thinking about the factors which make for sustainable lifestyles.
Several participants made pledges for improvement. These will be reviewed when the workshop is repeated in October 2020.
What is a “Carbon Footprint”?
A carbon footprint is defined as the total amount of man-made greenhouse gases (mostly carbon dioxide, but also methane, nitrous oxide and CFCs) produced directly or indirectly by a person, organisation or product.
It is expressed in equivalent tons of CO2. For example, each of the following activities adds one kilo of CO2 to your personal carbon footprint:
- Flying by plane a distance of one and a half miles;
- Producing five plastic bags, or two plastic bottles;
- Eating 7.5 grams of beef!
In October 2018 the IPCC Global Warming Special Report highlighted the following facts:
- Human activities are emitting 42 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
- At this rate the carbon budget, allowing us a 50:50 chance of keeping warming to 1.5°C, would be used up within 20 years.
- Current pledges by world governments are not enough to limit rises to 1.5°C.
- We need to cut global emissions by about 45% by 2030 compared with 2010 levels.
Conclusion: A scenario which calls for all Humanity to act now. As these projections show we will be over 2o C IPCC limit with current policies, unless we act with speed.
Members & students free. Non members £5.
For more information, contact quantockeco@btinternet.com or call 07725 525484.