HSC EVS PROJECTWORK ON CARBON FOOTPRINT

 

HSC EVS PROJECTWORK ON CARBON FOOTPRINT

 

INTRODUCTION

A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by our actions. A carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by an individual, event, organization, service, place or product, expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).Greenhouse gases, including the carbon-containing gases carbon dioxide and methane, can be emitted through the burning of fossil fuels, land clearance, and the production and consumption of food, manufactured goods, materials, wood, roads, buildings, transportation and other services.

Globally, the average carbon footprint is closer to 4 tons. To have the best chance of avoiding a 2℃ rise in global temperatures, the average global carbon footprint per year needs to drop to under 2 tons by 2050.

Lowering individual carbon footprints from 16 tons to 2 tons doesn’t happen overnight! By making small changes to our actions, like eating less meat, taking fewer connecting flights and line drying our clothes, we can start making a big difference.

IMPORTANCE

The carbon footprint is important as:

It is also an important component of the Ecological Footprint, since it is one competing demand for biologically productive space. Carbon emissions from burning fossil fuel accumulate in the atmosphere if there is not enough bio capacity dedicated to absorb these emissions.

Because of increasing concern about global climate change and carbon emissions as a causal factor, many companies and organizations are pursuing “carbon footprint” projects to estimate their own contributions to global climate change. Protocol definitions from carbon registries help organizations analyse their footprints. The scope of these protocols varies but generally suggests estimating only direct emissions and emissions from purchased energy, with less focus on supply chain emissions. In contrast, approaches based on comprehensive environmental life-cycle assessment methods are available to track total emissions across the entire supply chain, and experience suggests that following narrowly defined estimation protocols will generally lead to large underestimates of carbon emissions for providing products and services

Direct emissions from an industry are, on average, only 14% of the total supply chain carbon emissions (often called Tier 1 emissions), and direct emissions plus industry energy inputs are, on average, only 26% of the total supply chain emissions (often called Tier 1 and 2 emissions). Without a full knowledge of their footprints, firms will be unable to pursue the most cost-effective carbon mitigation strategies. We suggest that firms use the screening-level analysis described here to set the bounds of their foot printing strategy to ensure that they do not ignore large sources of environmental effects across their supply chains. Such information can help firms pursue carbon and environmental emission mitigation projects not only within their own plants but also across their supply chain.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of this project is to reduce the carbon foot printing

Reducing your carbon footprint is important because it mitigates the effects of global climate change, improves public health, boosts the global economy, and maintains biodiversity. When we cut carbon emissions we help ensure cleaner air, water, and food for our generation and for generations yet to come.

Increasing global temperature is a serious challenge for our generation and the generations to come. The temperature of the earth’s atmosphere has increased by 1.4 °F since 1900. Even though this change may seem insignificant, this temperature change is believed to already be causing climate change in some parts of the world. Steps can be taken to educate future generations on the many negative effects of global temperature increase and understand its potential causes. Scientists are trying to determine whether this increase is part of a natural cycle, or caused by human activity. Many scientists believe that increases in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may be responsible for increasing temperatures. Carbon dioxide is produced as a by-product of burning fossil fuels, something that modern societies require. This means that everyone has a carbon dioxide (or carbon) footprint and it is highly dependent on lifestyle choices such as transportation, diet, and purchases. This activity will help students understand the effect of their life choices on their carbon footprint. It will also help them recognize the lifestyle choices available to them that would lower their carbon footprint. Additionally, students will also be asked to critically think whether the options for lowering their carbon footprint available are actions that they are willing to take.

METHODOLOGY

Carbon Footprint first calculates energy use as a function of compute usage and data centre resource requirements. Then, Carbon Footprint calculates location-based carbon emissions from electricity use, and allocates those emissions across customers and further across each customer's purchased products.

Commonly used methodologies for calculating organizational carbon footprints include the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, from the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and ISO 14064, a standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization dealing specifically with greenhouse gas emissions. Several organizations, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Nature Conservancy, and British Petroleum, created carbon calculators on the Internet for individuals. Such calculators allow people to compare their own estimated carbon footprints with the national and world averages.

Carbon footprints are different from a country’s reported per capita emissions (for example, those reported under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). Rather than the greenhouse gas emissions associated with production, carbon footprints focus on the greenhouse gas emissions associated with consumption. They include the emissions associated with goods that are imported into a country but are produced elsewhere and generally take into account emissions associated with international transport and shipping, which is not accounted for in standard national inventories. As a result, a country’s carbon footprint can increase even as carbon emissions within its borders decrease.

OBSERVATIONS

Carbon footprint was calculated at my place using a Carbon footprint calculator form the internet site:  https://www.climatestewards.org

The following things were observed.

ANALYSIS:

By the above observations we analysed that we are emitting 211kgCO3 of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which contributes to global warming.

Restoring tropical forests is the best way to offset your carbon dioxide emissions while rebuilding habitats for endangered species. Our forests soak up about 20 tons of CO2 per hectare per year and do so for 20+ years.

Our portfolio of projects targets three issues facing our planet – climate change, mass species extinctions, and environmental degradation.  As a result, supporting our work has a triple bottom line, helping to rebuild a planet pushed to extremes.

Surprisingly, it only takes $90 year to create a wildlife corridor that will absorb the average U.S. consumer’s CO2 emissions for an entire year.  Take the first step to erase your carbon footprint.  Experts agree, we can’t solve climate change without trees.

RESULT & CONCLUSION

Large carbon footprints deplete resources on large and small scales, from a country's deforestation activities to one home's increased use of air conditioning. The more those with large carbon footprints use resources, the more greenhouse gases increase and spur further climate change.Carbon footprint from energy consumption can be reduced through the development of nuclear power (a zero carbon emissions energy source) and alternative energy projects, such as solar and wind energy, which are renewable resources.

Reforestation, the restocking of existing forests or woodlands that have previously been depleted, is an example of Carbon Offsetting, the counteracting of carbon dioxide emissions with an equivalent reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.[99] Carbon offsetting can reduce a company’s overall carbon footprint by offering a carbon credit. Carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, and the emissions of other GHGs, are often associated with the burning of fossil fuels, like natural gas, crude oil and coal. While this is harmful to the environment, carbon offsets can be purchased in an attempt to make up for these harmful effects. The Kyoto Protocol defines legally binding targets and timetables for cutting the GHG emissions of industrialized countries that ratified the Kyoto Protocol.