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Article #109: Carbon Offsetting

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






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