Need for Reducing Carbon Footprint

What is Carbon Footprint?

By definition, carbon footprint is a measure of the total amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) emissions of a defined population, system or activity, considering all relevant sources, sinks and storage within the spatial and temporal boundary of the population, system or activity of interest. Calculated as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) using the relevant 100-year global warming potential (GWP100).

To put it in simple words, it is the amount of carbon dioxide and methane (greenhouse gases) released into the environment by one's daily activities.

Why Should You Reduce Your Carbon Footprint?

Increase in greenhouse gases is the primary event associated with climate change which has led to global warming. There is now very strong evidence and almost universal agreement that significant recent global warming cannot be explained just by natural causes. The changes seen over recent years, and those predicted for the next century, are considered to be mainly the result of human behaviour.  As industry and our livelihoods depend on fossil fuels, the balance has shifted to cause an excessive amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.

While the average global temperature keeps increasing, on a day-to-day level the climate is changing in unpredictable ways.  We are already experiencing more extreme heat waves and drought, and with the warmer conditions causing glaciers and sea ice to melt, this leads to rising sea levels and more frequent and severe flooding around the world.  Natural disasters such as those caused by global warming will also effect our food supplies.  More frequent cases of flooding and drought will wipe out harvests leading to large hikes in world food prices, as well as shortages.