Our carbon footprint

Our Carbon FootprintEvery day, we see or hear news that our activites are contributing to climate change.

The negative effects of this problem are already visible: more extreme weather, increased flooding of coastal zones, and species extinction due to the disappearance of habitats are some of the more obvious signs. Climate change has the potential to contribute to even greater political instability in already vulnerable regions.

Each of us contributes to climate change with our daily activities. The good news is that each of us can begin to help solve the problem by reducing our carbon footprint.

A carbon footprint is defined as the total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). Our carbon footprint calculator estimates how many tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases your choices create each year.CO2 is produced by the burning of fossil fuels which is used to provide energy for our homes, by the cars we travel in and by the manufacture and transport of goods we buy. In the UK, each person produces, on average, 11 tonnes of carbon a year. Carbon emissions, most notably carbon dioxide (CO2), are part of a collection of gases that negatively influence the quality of our air and increase the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases have a direct influence on the environment, causing extreme weather changes, a global temperature increase, the loss of ecosystems and potentially hazardous health effects for people.

Inevitably, in going about our daily lives each of us contributes to the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change. However, there are many things each of us, as individuals, can do to reduce our carbon emissions. The choices we make in our homes, our travel, the food we eat, and what we buy and throw away all influence our carbon footprint .

In the UK, each person produces, on average 11 tonnes of carbon a year.

These are how and where these tonnes of carbon come from:

Phones: 0.1 tonnes

All sources of CO2 from communications including computers and mobile

phone chargers.

Education: 0.49 tonnes

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Our carbon footprint

These are emissions relating to schools, travel to and from school, and the

production of books and newspapers.

Aviation: 0.68 tonnes

The fastest growing source of CO2 emissions, thanks in part to the boom in

low-cost air travel.

Commuting: 0.81 tonnes

Travelling to and from the workplace on both public and private transport

including flying.

Hygiene: 1.34 tonnes

Includes emissions from the health sector and from individuals bathing and

washing.

Clothing: 1.00 tonnes

Energy and emissions generated in producing, transporting and cleaning

clothes and shoes.

Household: 1.37 tonnes

This covers non-heating emissions generated in the home from electrical

appliances, furnishings and from the construction of the building itself.

Food: 1.39 tonnes

Generated by cooking, eating and drinking, including how many miles food has

travelled to get to our homes, including driving to supermarkets.

Heating: 1.49 tonnes

Second biggest source of CO2 resulting from burining of gas, electricity and oil.

It is one of the easiest areas to reduce by turning down heating.

Recreation: 1.95 tonnes

The single largest source of emissions. Leisure activities including seaside trips,

TV, videos and stereos.

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