| This seems to be mentioned in the papers
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| | targets for developed countries. Under
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| almost every day recently. When you buy a
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| | Kyoto, the UK's target is to cut its
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| holiday or even car insurance, carbon
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| | emissions by 12.5 percent below 1990
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| offsetting is available. What exactly is
| |
| | levels by 2008-2012. However, the UK
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| carbon offsetting and why do we need it?
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| | government is convinced that the UK can
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| Well, basically carbon offsetting helps
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| | and should go further. The Kyoto Protocol
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| you to offset the carbon dioxide that you
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| | is only the first step. The Government
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| use when flying or driving etc by
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| | has therefore set a domestic goal to go
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| planting trees or installing solar panels
| |
| | further than the Kyoto commitment and cut
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| and thereby removing your contribution to
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| | the UK's emissions of carbon dioxide by
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| global climate change. You contribute to
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| | 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2010.
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| pollution by driving; you reduce the
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| | You Can Make a Difference, This is How
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| pollution by planting trees! You are
| |
| | You, your business or employer may be
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| carbon neutral!
| |
| | already taking steps to tackle their
|
| What is Carbon Dioxide?
| |
| | carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at source
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| Carbon Dioxide is an inevitable product
| |
| | using renewable energy and efficiency
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| of the way we all live today. It is
| |
| | measures wherever possible. An initiative
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| produced primarily through the burning of
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| | that offers extra action for businesses
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| fossil fuels in: -
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| | to offset their remaining CO2 emissions
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| • electricity generation
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| | through tree planting.
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| • the powering of vehicles, trains and
| |
| | By supporting tree planting across the
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| aircraft
| |
| | UK, businesses can help to create
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| • home heating and cooking (gas, wood,
| |
| | valuable woodland that will grow to
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| coal, oil)
| |
| | sequester (absorb and store) CO2
|
| Using Renewable Energy is one way of
| |
| | pollution and in so doing, help with the
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| reducing the amount of fossil fuel that
| |
| | fight against climate change.
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| we burn via homes and businesses.
| |
| | In addition to the environmental benefits
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| Gases released into the atmosphere by
| |
| | of absorbing atmospheric carbon as they
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| human activity are forming an insulating
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| | grow and mature, woodland provides a rich
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| barrier around the Earth, preventing the
| |
| | and important habitat valued by wildlife
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| natural release of heat from our
| |
| | and people alike.
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| atmosphere. There are a number of gases
| |
| | By using a simple carbon calculator you
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| that are held responsible for this
| |
| | can obtain an idea of how much carbon
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| process, which is sometimes referred to
| |
| | dioxide you, your family, your business
|
| as 'the greenhouse effect'. While methane
| |
| | are responsible for producing each year.
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| and other gases contribute to the
| |
| | Using data sources you can calculate how
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| problem, the chief culprit, by virtue of
| |
| | many trees you need to plant to offset or
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| the volumes produced, is carbon dioxide.
| |
| | balance your carbon dioxide production.
|
| Currently, around one quarter of carbon
| |
| | Your lifestyle can then be said to be
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| emissions are absorbed by the soil and
| |
| | carbon neutral or balanced.
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| one quarter by the oceans.
| |
| | You can find carbon offsets on the
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| The Kyoto Protocol, negotiated by more
| |
| | authors website.
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| than 160 nations, aims to reduce
| |
| | This article is free for republishing
|
| greenhouse gas emissions by setting
| |
| | Source:
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| legally binding emissions reduction
| |
| | Occupation: Founder of GuideMeGreen.
|
