ABOUT CARBON REDUCTION
We need to drastically reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere from human activity.
The main greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide. Actions to reduce its release into the air are often called carbon reduction actions. For instance, the burning of things which contain carbon such as oil, gas and other fuels, result in carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere. Furthermore, anything which reduces the amount of carbon dioxide being released as a result of this activity would be referred to as a carbon reduction action.
However, there are other greenhouse gases, such as methane, so you will also see us talk about “emissions reduction”. This is exactly the same principle as carbon reduction; the only key difference is that other greenhouse gases are released.
The Toolkit on this website contains over 60 individual actions and 30 collective actions that have been selected as carbon and / or emissions reduction measures. Take a look at what actions you can take to address your carbon reduction and emissions and help protect our environment.
Did you know?
1 person generates around 2.4 tonnes of CO2 every year
1 tonne of CO2 would…
Fill a 3 bedroom home
Be made by 3,000 car miles
Be offset by 150 pine trees
OUR IMPACT ON THE PLANET
Increasing levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, such as methane, in the Earth’s atmosphere create a ‘greenhouse effect’. These gases trap the suns energy and cause the Earth, in particular its oceans, to warm.
The more of these gases in the atmosphere, the warmer the Earth becomes. Climate change is happening overwhelmingly as a result of this warming.
The warming of the Earth and its oceans is leading to the melting of polar ice and glaciers, which are causing sea levels to rise and increasing the risk of coastal flooding for millions of people around the world. This warming is also leading to more frequent, more extreme severe weather events, often with devastating impacts for people and property.
By using the Toolkit to record you carbon reducing actions and emissions, you’ll be playing a part in reducing the impacts of climate change on us all.
Did You Know?
There is More Carbon Dioxide in The Atmosphere Today Than at Any Point in The Last 800,000 Years.
Sea Levels Have Risen Over 8 Inches Since 1880, With About 3 Inches Gained in The Last 25 Years.
WHY IS GATHERING LOCAL DATA IMPORTANT?
By registering with us and committing to carbon reduction, you’ll be having your say in how local environmental policy is formed to meet the specific circumstances of residents where you live.
By using the Toolkit, your local councils will be able to see what is already being done in your community, what people are planning to do, and what’s holding them back from taking certain actions. They can use this information to inform their planning and decision making, to come up with support that relevant to what’s actually happening in your area.
Away from the Toolkit, where we have some dedicated actions for how you can use your voice.
However, there is plenty you can do to make sure your voice is heard in your local area. You can be certain that there are many people who live near you who share your concerns about climate change and the ecological crisis. The ways in which we feel comfortable about getting involved are very personal.
Many people are starting to speak out for the first time and some people have been asking for change for many years.
Your school, church, local council and other local community organisations and groups are great places to meet with others nearby who share your concerns about the future, and to identify issues that you can lobby for. Collective action by individual people can be the thing that gets big issues onto the political agenda and we have enormous power as consumers and voters which we can use by letting companies and governments know how important climate change policies are to us.
INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE TO HELP