reduce your carbon or else ur footprint is going to grow leaving large amount of CARBON FOOTPRINT!!!...
act before u r too late.
u suffer bt a ppt makes u to realise ur mistakes.
go for it.
reduce your footprint!!!..
2. INTRODUCTION
Something to draw you all in....
TASK
1. Read these instructions first.
2. Close your eyes.
3. Breathe in slowly to the count of 3.
4. Breathe out to the count of 3.
5. Repeat 3 times steps 2, 3 and 4.
6. Question to think about as you are breathing- What gas are you
breathing out? CARBON DIOXIDE which leads us to.....
by Sara Gandey (2010)
3. IMAGINATION TIME.......
Now taking the idea of
carbon out of carbon dioxide,
think about wandering along a
sandy beach, when you look
behind you, what do you
see....
by Sara Gandey (2010)
4. SO NOW WE HAVE THE
CONCEPT TITLE
But what does it mean????
by Sara Gandey (2010)
5. WHAT IS CARBON FOOTPRINT
A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact
our activities have on the environment, and in
particular climate change. It relates to the amount
of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day
lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity,
heating and transportation etc.
6. BUT THERE ARE
DIFFERENT TYPES
1. PRIMARY CARBON FOOTPRINT
This is a measure of how much carbon dioxide is given
out directly by energy consumption so you are in
control of this type of carbon footprint.
2. SECONDARY CARBON FOOTPRINT
This is a measure of carbon dioxide given out that is
not under your control by products you consume.
by Sara Gandey (2010)
7. CLASSIFYING CARBON
FOOTPRINT ACTIVITY
PRIMARY CARBON
FOOTPRINT
SECONDARY CARBON
FOOTPRINT
Home appliances permanently
switched on
Imported food
Flying to work from London to
Shoreham
Ready meals
Using a car to drive into town for
2 minutes
Eating large quantities of red
meat
Energy efficient condenser boiler Cheese-strings
Using a tumble drier Drinking bottled/filtered water
only
by Sara Gandey (2010)
8. CONTD…..
The carbon footprint is a
measurement of all greenhouse
gases we individually produce
and has units of tonnes (or kg)
of carbon dioxide equivalent
A carbon footprint is "the total
set of Green house gases (GHG)
emissions caused by an
organization, event, product or
person. Greenhouse gases can be
emitted through transport, land
clearance, and the production and
consumption of food, fuels.
9. CONTD….
The mitigation of carbon footprints through the
development of alternative projects, such
as solar or wind energy or reforestation,
represents one way of reducing a carbon footprint
and is often known as Carbon offsetting
The main influences on carbon footprints
include population, economic output, and energy
and carbon intensity of the economy.
These factors are the main targets of individuals
and businesses in order to decrease carbon
footprints. Scholars suggest the most effective
way to decrease a carbon footprint is to either
decrease the amount of energy needed for
production or to decrease the dependence on
carbon emitting fuels.
11. AVERAGE CARBON EMISSIONS PER
PERSON BY COUNTRY
The Average Carbon Footprint in the United States vs. World The average
U.S. household carbon footprint is about 50 tons CO2e per year. The single
largest source of emissions for the typical household is from driving (gasoline
use). Transportation as a whole (driving, flying & small amount from public
transit) is the largest overall category, followed by housing (electricity,
natural gas, waste, construction) then food (mostly from red meat, dairy and
seafood products, but also includes emissions from all other food), then goods
followed lastly by services. The carbon footprint of U.S. households is about 5
times greater than the global average, which is approximately 10 tons CO2e
per household per year. For most U.S. households, the single most important
action to reduce their carbon footprint is driving less or switching to a more
efficient vehicle.
12. DIRECT CARBON EMISSIONS
The following table compares, from peer-reviewed studies of
full life cycle emissions and from various other studies, the carbon
footprint of various forms of energy generation: nuclear, hydro,
coal, gas, solar cell, peat and wind generation technology.
These three studies thus concluded that hydroelectric, wind, and
nuclear power produced the least CO2 per kilowatt-hour of any
other electricity sources. These figures do not allow for emissions
due to accidents or terrorism. Wind power and solar power, emit no
carbon from the operation, but do leave a footprint during
construction phase and maintenance during
operation. Hydropower from reservoirs also has large footprints
from initial removal of vegetation and ongoing methane (stream
detritus decays anaerobically to methane in bottom of reservoir,
rather than aerobically to CO2 if it had stayed in an unrestricted
stream.
The carbon footprint of energy
The Vattenfall study found renewable
and nuclear generation responsible
for far less CO2 than fossil fuel
generation.
13. PASSENGER TRANSPORT
Flight
Some representative figures for CO2 emissions are provided by LIPASTO's survey of
average direct emissions (not accounting for high-altitude radiative effects) of
airliners expressed as CO2 and CO2 equivalent per passenger kilometre:
Domestic, short distance, less than 463 km (288 mi): 257 g/km CO2 or 259 g/km
(14.7 oz/mile) CO2e
Long distance flights: 113 g/km CO2 or 114 g/km (6.5 oz/mile) CO2e
Road
CO2 emissions per passenger kilometre (pkm) for all road travel for 2011 in Europe as provided by the
European Environment Agency:
109 g/pkm CO2 (Figure 2)
For vehicles, average figures for CO2 emissions per kilometre for road travel for 2013 in Europe,
normalized to the NEDC test cycle, are provided by the International Council on Clean Transportation:
Newly registered passenger cars: 127 g/km CO2
Hybrid-electric vehicles: 92 g/km CO2
Light commercial vehicles (LCV): 175 g/km CO2
Average figures for the United States are provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency, based on
the EPA Federal Test Procedure, for the following categories:
Passenger cars: 322 g/mi (200 g/km) CO2
Trucks: 450 g/mi (280 g/km) CO2
Combined: 369 g/mi (229 g/km) CO2
14. CONTD…..
Rail
In 2005, the US company Amtrak's carbon dioxide equivalent
emissions per passenger kilometre were 0.116 kg,about twice as high
as the UK rail average (where much more of the system is
electrified), and about eight times a Finnish electric intercity train.
Sea
Average carbon dioxide emissions by ferries per passenger-
kilometre seem to be 0.12 kg (4.2 oz). However, 18-knot ferries
between Finland and Sweden produce 0.221 kg (7.8 oz) of CO2, with
total emissions equalling a CO2 equivalent of 0.223 kg (7.9 oz), while
24–27-knot ferries between Finland and Estonia produce 0.396 kg
(14.0 oz) of CO2 with total emissions equalling a CO2 equivalent of
0.4 kg (14 oz).
15. INDIRECT CARBON EMISSIONS: THE CARBON
FOOTPRINTS OF PRODUCTS
In a 2014 study by Scarborough et al., the real-life diets of British people were
surveyed and their dietary greenhouse gas footprints estimated. Average dietary
greenhouse-gas emissions per day (in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent) were:
7.19 for high meat-eaters
5.63 for medium meat-eaters
4.67 for low meat-eaters
3.91 for fish-eaters
3.81 for vegetarians
2.89 for vegans
Food
Materials
The carbon footprint of materials (also known as embodied carbon) varies widely. The carbon
footprint of many common materials can be found in the Inventory of Carbon & Energy
database, and LCA databases via openLCA Nexus
16. CONTD…
Textiles
The precise carbon footprint of different textiles varies considerably according to a wide range of
factors. However, studies of textile production in Europe suggest the following carbon dioxide equivalent
emissions footprints per kilo of texile at the point of purchase by a consumer:
Cotton: 7
Nylon: 5.43
PET (e.g. synthetic fleece): 5.55
Wool: 5.48
Accounting for durability and energy required to wash and dry textile products, synthetic fabrics
generally have a substantially lower carbon footprint than natural ones
Cement
Cement production and carbon footprint resulting from soil sealing was 8.0 Mg person−1 of total per
capita CO2 emissions (Italy, year 2003); the balance between C loss due to soil sealing and C stocked
in man-made infrastructures resulted in a net loss to the atmosphere, -0.6 Mg C ha−1 y−1
17. HEAT ENGINE
Heat engine is a device which converts heat into mechanical
energy continuously. A heat engine basically consists of a
cylinder fitted with a smooth piston & a working substance
enclosed within it .
Depending on the method of producing & transferring heat
energy to the working substance, heat engines are classified
into two types viz, EXTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE &
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.
The internal combustion engine can be a petrol (or gas)
engine or a diesel engine.
In all these, working substance is in gaseous form . It
expands due to heat. During expansion, the piston is pushed
outwards. The moving piston does external work. Thus heat is
converted into mechanical energy.
18. EFFICIENCY OF HEAT ENGINE
A heat engine converts heat into work continuously. For this,
the steps of working have to be repeated i.e. the engine comes
to the initial stage again & again. During this, all the heat
absorbed can not be converted into work i.e. some amount of
heat is not used or lost every time.
The efficiency of heat engine is defined as : EFFICIENCY =
𝑊𝑂𝑅𝐾 𝐷𝑂𝑁𝐸
𝐻𝐸𝐴𝑇 𝐴𝐵𝑆𝑂𝑅𝐵𝐸𝐷
=
𝑊
𝑄
.
100% of work (mechanical energy) can be converted into
heat, but 100% of heat absorbed can not be converted to work.
Low efficiency is also because of the heat loss due to
friction.
19. EXTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE (STEAM
ENGINE)
When 1cc of water is heated at constant pressure, the resulting
steam occupies about 1700cc. This enormous expansion exerts a lot
of force on the piston. To generate steam, water is heated in a
chamber (boiler), outside the cylinder. Thus it is called external
combustion engine.
The exhausted steam condenses to water which is again utilised to
produce steam. This gives out energy as lost or not used.
The position when both the valves are closed is called ‘dead
position’. Stopping at this point is avoided by the momentum of the
rotating heavy wheel.
Efficiency of early steam engines was only 1 to 2 %. Modern steam
engines have efficiency of about 40%
20. LIMITATIONS OF STEAM ENGINES
The steam chamber (boiler) may burst due to high pressure &
lead to accidents.
Steam engine, along with the boiler etc.. is very bulky.
The temperature difference is less between the high
pressure, steam input & the steam exhausted through outlet .
i.e.T1-T2 is not large. Thus the efficiency is low.
The initial starting time for steam engine is very long since a
large amount of water needs to be heated & boiled to steam on
the chamber, to stare. This is inconvenient.
Thus now-a days, steam engines are mostly replaces by
internal combustion engines.
21. CONTD…..
In petrol or gas engine ,the combustion is initiated by an electric spark whereas , in
a diesel engine , it is due to high temperature obtained by compression.
The petrol as well as the diesel engines can be four stroke or two stroke. To
complete one cycle of operation (from intake of fuel to pushing out exhaust gases)
two stroke engines require two strokes of piston while the four stroke engines require
four strokes of piston.
22. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE
The fuel of an internal combustion engine is an inflammable material. It can be petrol
or diesel or gas.
The fuel is burnt with air inside the main cylinder connected with piston. The cylinder
contains air which required for combustion. Thus, it is called internal combustion engine.
As a result ,a large amount of CARBON DIOXIDE & CARBON MONOXIDE etc.
are produced along with high temperature.
A s the gas expand ,the piston is pushed ,giving mechanical energy. The piston ,while
coming back, pushes out the used up gases. Fresh fuel enters the cylinder & the process is
repeated
23. PETROL ENGINE(4-STROKE)
This is also called an Otto engine since this was designed by N.A.Otto in 1876.
The petrol from the tank goes to a device called carburettor. The petrol-air
mixture is produced in it.
WORKING
1st STROKE: (Intake stroke):
The inlet valve is open. The descending piston draws fresh petrol-air mixture into the
cylinder from the carburettor
2nd STROKE: (compressipon stroke):
Both the valves are closed. The rising piston compresses the mixture to a pressure of
about 8 atmospheres .The mixture is ignited by electric spark produced by the spark plug
24. 4th STROKE (EXHAUST stroke):
The exhaust valve is opened. The rising piston discharges the burnt gases
from the cylinder. Just before the piston moves downwards, V2 is closed & V1
is opened , stroke 1 continues & the next cycle begins.
3rd STROKE: (Power stroke):
Both valves are closed as in the 2nd stroke .The combustion of
fuel produces high temperature(2000 C) & the pressure
(15atm. This forces the piston downwards. The moving piston
rotates the crankshaft & the wheel connected to it
25. DIESEL ENGINE
The operation of this is similar to that of petrol engine. A fuel injector is present
instead of a spark plug and the mixing of air and fuel takes place inside the cylinder
itself instead of the carburettor. The rest of the construction is same.
Intake stroke:
Fresh air is sucked through the inlet valve (exhaust valve is closed).
Compression stroke:
Both the valves are closed. Piston compresses the air to about 1/10 to 1/18 of the
initial volume. Due to this, the temperature rises to about 900°c. At this point fuel
is injected into the cylinder in the form of a fine spray through the fuel injector.
26. Power stroke:
Both the valves are closed. Due to high temperature ,the fuel gets
vaporised & ignites producing high temperature & pressure. This pushes
the piston & rotates the wheel.
Exhaust stroke:
The exhaust valve is opened. The piston moves up due to
inertia & discharges the spent gases via the exhaust
27. The combustion is outside
the cylinder( i.e., external).
Large in size.
Low efficiency.
Initial starting takes a long
time.
Causes LESS AIR
POLLUTION since no gases
like CO2,CO are emitted.
The combustion is within the
cylinder( i.e., internal).
Small in size.
High efficiency
Quicker initial start.
Causes MORE AIR
POLLUTION since it produces
gasses like CO2, CO, etc.
External combustion engine Internal combustion engine
28. DISADVANTAGE OF INTERNAL
COMBUSTION ENGINE
The most important disadvantage of using a petrol or diesel engine is that it emits a lot
of carbon di oxide & carbon monoxide gases which causes environmental degradation
,increase in global worming, depletion of ozone layer & various health disorders for the
transport users
So one of the best way is to minimize co2 emission & people are practising it by
undergoing emission test for their vehicles. But that alone is not enough.
For achieving this we have to either use non conventional sources like solar powered
vehicles, electricity powered or the best is cycling, but people would not afford to it.
Finally, now we are introducing you to a renewable & cheap source of fuel - Pongamia
Pinnata.
29. BIOFUEL
The awareness at the policy level about the need to adopt low carbon and sustainable
energy option is an indicator of wider acceptance of by far the biggest environmental
challenge - climate change. Liquid biofuels primarily due to their potential role in climate
change adaptation have been a subject of intense discussion since last few years. The
various studies world over on the subject of biofuels have focused in general on the
various negative environmental impacts of biofuel production and especially on the
impact of large scale biofuel plantation on food production, which has led to the popular
food versus fuel debate and further research on this topic. Surprisingly enough most of
these studies have overlooked the feedstock options available in the vast and diverse plant
kingdom for sustainable production of biofuels even when the use of biomass as a source
of energy is as old as human existence. As a result, the opportunities for linking
biodiversity conservation with biofuel productions were also missed in a big way.
30. The efforts made by Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF) a research
NGO working in the field of participatory conservation in the northern western Ghats, India
to establish synergetic relationship between energy needs and biodiversity conservation by
promoting high conservation value species as feedstock material for biofuel production
definitely provide the evidence to believe that biofuels could be produced in biodiversity
friendly manner.
The AERF began its work in the field of bio-energy 5 years ago by undertaking resource
assessment of native tree species – Pongamia pinnata in Maharashtra, India. Pongamia
pinnata an oilseed bearing tree species is highly promising feedstock material for biofuel
production however is preferred for its use as fuelwood. This is precisely due to the lack of
awareness about its potential as biofuel feedstock and misplaced biofuel policy in countries
like India.
31. The resource assessment carried out in 150 villages in two different agro-climatic zones of Maharashtra-
Raigad district (coastal region with high rainfall) and Solapur district ( arid zone and rain shadow area)
brought forth some important findings. Pongamia pinnata is widely and evenly distributed in both the
agro-climatic zones. More significantly, it also grows in coastal areas and tolerates salinity as well as water
logging. In most of the villages, local people were not aware about the use of Pongamia pinnata oil as
source of energy.
The traditional knowledge associated with use of this species was also hardly documented. We found that
lack of economic incentive exposed this resource to over harvesting for fuelwood purpose. It was also found
out that quite a few blocks from Raigad and Solapur district had healthy populations of Pongamia pinnata and
promoting non-timber use of this resource was only way to arrest cutting of this tree for fuelwood purpose.
Thus in 2006, AERF launched an initiative for collection and processing of Pongamia oilseeds at cluster level
for biofuel production and creating livelihood opportunities for the local communities. Through the project –
Decentralised Biodiesel Resource centers for improving rural energy services and creating
sustainable livelihoods, AERF has been promoting the use of native and high conservation value tree
species for localized biofuel production for last four years. AERF established two such centers by the
beginning of 2007. These centers have not only provided income generation opportunities to local people
from about 70 villages but also created awareness about non-timber value of this important native biofuel
feedstock.
32. In the last two years, AERF has tried to promote use of other promising and native oilseed bearing tree
species Madhuca indica, Madhuca latifolia and Calophyllum innophyllum as feedstock for localized biofuel production.
Systematic resource assessment of all these species was carried out in the coastal districts of Maharashtra
viz. Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg for understanding the density, distribution and abundance of this
resource covering about 300 villages. Out of these three species, Calophyllum innophyllum is an IUCN
Redlist species and is found in coastal regions of Southeast Asia as well as on every island of Polynesia and
Micronesia. During the investigation, it has also been found that Calophyllum innophyllum serves as keystone
species and has many ecosystem functions viz. shoreline protection, wind breaker, preferred feeding habitat for
bats besides producing high yielding oilseeds (55% oil /unit), similarly Madhuca indica has been considered a
Sacred tree by many tribal communities in India on account of its various uses( its leaves are used for soil
preparation in agriculture, flowers are used for making traditional wine and in earlier times its oil was used for
cooking purposes). From ecological viewpoint, this tree also supports a healthy population of bats as fruit bats
feed on its fruits and are also responsible for its dispersal. Its seeds contain about 45% Oil and the oil has the
required characteristics for its use as biofuel feedstock (Bhatt YC et al 2004) . Moreover, its oil-cake has
tremendous potential for biogas generation ( Rama Chandra et al 2006) . Madhuca indica is found in dry and
deciduous forests in India and as many as in nine Indian states its use as biofuel feedstock could be promoted.
33. PONGEMIA TREE
It is also called as Honge tree in kannada.
We can usually see it on road sides as it is available as plenty in nature.
In over 70 villages in Raigad district of Maharashtra, these trees are
planted(usually 2-3 trees per house) in front of their houses.
This provides shelter to a variety of animals & provides a cooling effect during
day time. So people prefer to stay under this tree & interestingly people of Raigad
district sleep under this tree during sunshine to get fresh air
34. CONTD
People of Raigad district have an average life expectancy of about 85 years.
A recent survey showed that the reason for this is due to the plantation of Pongemia
trees.
This tree is in the top of the list to photosynthesise.
So, it gives out a lot of oxygen for animals to respire & since this district has a good
transport facility, there will be no pollution coz all amount of o2 produced will be absorbed
by this tree to photosynthesise.
Therefore this helps in reduction of the pollutants in the air we breathe.
Not only does it provide good air for humans to respire, OIL is extracted from the
seeds this tree produce which can be used as a fuel which completely oxidises to give out
energy .
35. So finally the basic idea of us is to tell YOU that these seeds of
PONGEMIA tree can be used to extract oil for the use of
RUNNING VEHICLES instead of using petrol/diesel which do not
oxidise completely & which are expensive
These oils are cheaply available & eco friendly. So poor people can
easily afford it to buy .(1 litre of Pongemia oil costs about 35 rupees.)
36. Finally we have got to know that the efficiency of internal combustion
engine is more than any system but it depends on us for what type of fuel
we use.
Not only these trees, even oil as a fuel can be extracted from other
commonly found trees such as Madhuca Insignis.
These fuel rates are only 35 rupees for a litre which emits no
pollutants.
38. CONCLUSION FOR BIOFUEL
The type of feed stocks selected by the leading bio-diesel producing countries such as
Brazil , USA , Germany and Malaysia ( Sugarcane, corn, rapeseed and Palm respectively)
provide sufficient evidence for absence of biodiversity friendly species in the supply chain of
these production systems which is also the limiting factor for mitigating the negative impact
of biofuel production on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. It also serves an
indicator for total negligence on behalf of policy makers towards biodiversity while offering
subsidies for large scale cultivation of these crops. Absence of biodiversity relevant biofuel
policy puts serious restrictions on use and integration of high conservation value species in
biofuel production which in turn isolate the efforts towards conservation and sustainable use
of biodiversity from this highly important sector.
39. More than 300 native and non-edible oilseed species have been identified worldwide which
are suitable for biodiesel production. In India which is one of 17 mega diverse countries of the
world, there are more than 200 oilseed bearing trees having potential for biofuel production.
Out of these 200 tree species, at least 50 have high conservation value based on the various
ecosystem services these species offer and their conservation status. The World list of
threatened trees (Oldfield et al 1998) estimated that 10% of world’s tree species were
threatened with extinction. Given the ecological, economic and cultural importance of trees
this was clearly of great concern. But as yet the conservation responses for trees and the
allocation of resources are inadequate given the scale of the extinction crisis ( Oldfield S.
2008). There is high probability of availing resources for conducting research on high
conservation value tree species and thereby saving them from extinction if these are integrated
into supply chain of biofuel sector which is attracting investments in billions of dollars
worldwide. More importantly, biofuels have been looked at as practical climate change
mitigation strategy, by integrating biodiversity into the biofuel sector; we can ensure well being
of human beings as well as biodiversity.
40. Currently 1,002 tree species are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, 26
more than when The World List of Threatened Trees was published. Many of these species
have been reduced to 50 individuals in the wild and may already be functionally extinct, with
isolated individuals persisting in forest fragments. Urgent action is needed to conserve and
restore these species and to prevent more species slipping into the Critically Endangered
category. In the longer term issues that will need to be considered are how to value the full
range of services provided by trees, over and above the financial value of specific products,
and how to provide incentives for their long-term conservation ( Oldfield S. 2008). The
promotion of sustainable use of certain high conservation value trees possessing
considerable potential for biofuel production can create the multiplicator effect and positive
impact for biodiversity globally. Especially, because while dealing with the environmental
challenge of climate change little consideration is being given to biodiversity conservation.
Biofuels which till date has been the cause of worry for conservationists actually can
provide avenues for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity if suitable policy
frameworks are put in place.
41. CO2 EMISSIONS ARE BEING
OUTSOURCED BY RICH COUNTRIES
The world's richest countries are increasingly outsourcing their carbon pollution to China and other rising
economies, according to a draft UN report.
Outsourcing of emissions comes in the form of electronic devices such as smartphones, cheap clothes and
other goods manufactured in China and other rising economies but consumed in the US and Europe.
A draft of the latest report from the intergovernmental panel on climate change , obtained by the
Guardian, says emissions of carbon dioxide and the other greenhouse gases warming the planet grew twice as
fast in the first decade of the 21st century as they did during the previous three decades.
Much of that rise was due to the burning of coal, the report says. And much of that coal was used to
power factories in China and other rising economies that produce goods for US and European consumers, the
draft adds.
Since 2000, annual carbon dioxide emissions for China and the other rising economies have more than
doubled to nearly 14 Giga tonnes a year, according to the draft report. But about 2 GT a year of that was
produced making goods for export.
42. The picture is similar for other rising economies producing goods for export, the report
finds.
A growing share of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion in developing countries is
released in the production of goods and services exported, notably from upper-middle-
income countries to high-income countries..
Other middle income countries, with smaller exports, saw a more gradual rise in
emissions. For the poorest countries in the world, however, emissions have flatlined since
1990.
Factories in China and other rising economies now produce more carbon pollution than
industries in America and Europe.
A growing share of global emissions is released in the manufacture of products that are
traded across international borders. The newly wealthy elites of China, India and Brazil are
flying more, buying more cars and otherwise fuelling the consumption that is driving climate
change.
43. But their per capita greenhouse gas emissions are still below those in America and Europe – a
gap that China and India regularly cite at climate talks to deflect pressure to cut emissions.
In addition, a large and growing share of the carbon pollution attributed to China and those
rising economies was generated in the production of goods that ended up in America and Europe.
The outsourcing of those emissions has skewed efforts to account for all global emissions, which
typically was conducted on a national basis. Those accounting efforts are no longer accurate,
according to analysts.
"If we are just looking at our national inventory to understand the emissions trends, it is just not
telling the full picture of our impacts," said Cynthia Cummis, an expert on greenhouse gas
accounting at the World Resources Institute. "We need to understand the full life cycle of all the
goods and services that we are purchasing and selling."
There is now growing debate about how to assign responsibility for emissions generated
producing goods that were made in one country but ultimately destined for another.
"The consumers that are importing those goods have some responsibility for those goods that are
happening outside of our boundaries," Cummis said.
44. The 29-page draft, a summary for policy makers, was dated 17 December. An edited version
is due to be published in Germany in April.
The report is the third in a series by the IPCC, summing up the state of the climate crisis
since 2007 and prospects for solutions. The first part was released in September. It is stark
about the chances of avoiding dangerous climate change – especially if deep cuts in
greenhouse gas emissions are pushed back beyond 2030.
Temperatures have already risen by 0.8C since the dawning of the industrial age, the report
says.
Unless there are deep cuts in emissions – up to 70% of current levels by 2050 – or a near-
quadrupling of renewable energy, governments may have to fall back increasingly on
experimental technologies for sucking carbon dioxide from the air to avoid dangerous warming.
45. POLITICS OF GLOBAL WARMING
The politics of global warming are complex due to numerous factors that arise from the
global economy's interdependence on carbon dioxide emitting hydrocarbon energy sources
and because carbon dioxide is directly implicated in global warming - making global
warming a non-traditional environmental challenge:
Implications to all aspects of a nation-state's economy - The vast majority of the
world economy relies on energy sources or manufacturing techniques that
release greenhouse gases at almost every stage of production, transportation, storage,
delivery & disposal while a consensus of the world's scientists attribute global warming to
the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. This intimate linkage between
global warming and economic vitality implicates almost every aspect of a nation-state's
economy;
46. Perceived lack of adequate advanced energy technologies - Fossil fuel abundance and
low prices continue to put pressure on the development of adequate advanced energy
technologies that can realistically replace the role of fossil fuels - as of 2010, over 91% of the
worlds energy is derived from fossil fuels and non carbon-neutral technologies. Developing
countries do not have cost effective access to the advanced energy technologies that they need
for development (most advanced technologies has been developed by and exist in the
developed world). Without adequate and cost effective post-hydrocarbon energy sources, it is
unlikely the countries of the developed or developing world would accept policies that would
materially affect their economic vitality or economic development prospects;
Politicization of climate science - Although there is a consensus on the science of global
warming and its likely effects - some special interests groups work to suppress the
consensus while others work to amplify the alarm of global warming. All parties that engage in
such acts add to the politicization of the science of global warming. The result is a clouding of
the reality of the global warming problem.
47. Vulnerable developing countries and developed country legacy emissions -
Some developing nations blame the developed world for having created the global
warming crisis because it was the developed countries that emitted most of the carbon
dioxide over the twentieth century and vulnerable countries perceive that it should be the
developed countries that should pay to address the challenge;
Industrialization of the developing world - As developing nations industrialize their
energy needs increase and since conventional energy sources produce carbon dioxide, the
carbon dioxide emissions of developing countries are beginning to rise at a time when the
scientific community, global governance institutions and advocacy groups are telling the
world that carbon dioxide emissions should be decreasing. Without access to cost effective
and abundant energy sources many developing countries see climate change as a hindrance
to their unfettered economic development
48. The vast majority of developed countries rely on carbon dioxide emitting energy sources for large
components of their economic activity. Fossil fuel energy generally dominates the following areas of an
OECD economy:
agriculture (fertilizers, irrigation, ploughing, planting, harvesting, pesticides)
transportation & distribution (automobiles, shipping, trains, airplanes)
storage (refrigeration, warehousing)
national defense (armies, tanks, military aircraft, manufacture of munitions)
In addition, carbon dioxide emitting fossil fuels many times dominate the utilities aspect of an
economy that provide electricity for:
lighting
heating & cooling
refrigeration
production of products
computing and telecommunications
Also, activities like cement production, deforestation, brick production, livestock raising, refrigeration
and other industrial activity contributes greenhouse gases that together are believed to account for 1/3 of
global warming.
49. CONCLUSION
The carbon footprint has started becoming synonymous to a comprehensive GHG account,
over the life cycle stages of any product or activity. The carbon footprint study is the basis of
low-carbon research. The carbon footprint has been commercialized and is being utilized by
organizations to count themselves and their products’ carbon and adopt measures to cut down
emissions, to meet the green consumer expectations of consumers or governmental request,
and provides enormous opportunities to encourage enterprises to improve production
efficiency and reduce resource consumption and waste, and promote the development of
innovation and technology, to help open new business opportunities, and promote corporate
social responsibility and achieve sustainable development.
.
50. CONCLUSION
However, as carbon footprint reports are increasing in response to business and legal
requirements, most of the calculations are following the GHG protocol and PAS worldwide.
Since it has been extended to cover the natural system as well, it becomes essential to deal with
the unavoidable emissions. The type of GHG, system settings, quantification and carbon
footprint, selection of date and treatment of specific emissions are the most important part of
the study of the carbon footprint and assessment standards, especially for organizations and
products. Guidelines had been made on these issues from existing assessment standards, but it
still needs further improvement. Because carbon emission has been commercialized, and has
been found to influence businesses, legal guidelines are necessary to guide and monitor these
calculations, so that enterprise' and their products' carbon footprint analysis will be included in
the decision-making stage. Meanwhile, as the strong measures and tools for the global problem
of climate warm, research of carbon footprint and assessment standards need to be carried out
within the global scope, to solve problems such as carbon leakage and border-tax adjustments