Carbon

Australia has one of the highest greenhouse gas emissions rates in the world.¹ Greenhouse gases contribute to global warming and climate change.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas present in the Earth’s atmosphere. For millions of years this gas has kept our planet at a stable temperature suitable for sustaining life. As more CO2 is released by human activities (such as burning coal for electricity, driving cars and cutting down forests), the gas becomes more concentrated, which heats our planet (known as global warming) causing changes in the climate. This rise in the Earth’s temperature is known as the enhanced greenhouse effect. Other greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere from human activities include: water vapour, methane, (which has 14 times the impact of CO2) and, nitrous oxide (which has 298 times more impact of CO2).

Where does Carbon come from?

Did you know that most of the energy we use originally came from the sun? Fossil fuels like coal and oil were created over millions of years from buried vegetation. When we burn oil and coal we are releasing the energy that was stored millions of years ago.

Every time we use energy from fossil fuels, like using electricity generated from coal, driving a petrol-driven car, or taking a plane flight, there is a release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This is commonly called a carbon emission.

The amount of carbon each person makes is called a carbon footprint (just like your footprints on a beach, it leaves something behind after you have left). If we increase our emissions, our footprint will be larger. If we reduce our emissions, our footprint will be smaller and our effect on the environment will be less.

A person’s carbon footprint is made up of two parts.

1. Primary footprint: actions that have a direct impact on the environment, e.g. being driven to school.
2. Secondary footprint: actions that have an indirect impact on the environment, e.g. the energy used to transport imported foods from their country of origin to the local store for you to buy.

The further the distance, the more carbon was released into the atmosphere to get that item to you. From manufacturing to transport to storage, carbon emissions are released into the atmosphere.

You can reduce the impact of your carbon footprint by making environmentally conscious choices when you use energy and purchase products.

You can reduce your impact on the environment and make your footprint lighter by taking three simple steps: reduce, replace, offset.

Sources: 1 http://unstats.un.org/unsd/ENVIRONMENT/air_greenhouse_emissions.htm