A country’s carbon footprint indicates how much fossil fuel each resident burns each year. How well do we fare and what can you do to help reduce it?
We’ve been hearing the same story for years now but with Al Gore’s movie The Inconvenient Truth and building evidence over the past 12 months, people are becoming more aware of global warming and are starting to take it seriously – in Australia they have even banned the use of conventional light bulbs. If we sit back and do nothing we will, according to various predictions, either be faced with a killer heatwave, rising sea levels or an increase in surface air temperature. It is easy to dismiss climate change as a problem for governments but there are measures that individuals can take that would, when added together, be for the greater good. A carbon footprint allows each individual to know just how much harm they are causing.
Carbon footprints measure the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of green-house gas production, measured in units of carbon dioxide. They take into account gas and heating bills, electricity consumption, transport means and other energy uses. Unless you are a hermit living in the Akamas, the figure would probably shock you.
“Our carbon footprint, as a country, is still to be announced but what we do know is that if we aren’t the worst nation in Europe, we are definitely among the worst,” Cyprus environment commissioner, Charalambos Theopemptou said. “And it’s not because we aren’t fully informed as a country. It’s because we aren’t used to checking just how much energy we are wasting. We haven’t learnt how to do so.” Rich organisations that waste the most energy will not be looking out for the energy penalty sticker, firstly because it doesn’t exist and second because they have enough money not to worry about it.
A rough estimate of Cyprus’ carbon footprint (meaning the amount each individual uses) is around 6,100kg per annum. This compares favourably against the UK (9,400kg) and the US (19,800 kg) but developing countries have a much lower level. China, for example, has a footprint of 3.200 kg.
As a consumer there is plenty that could be done to cut levels of carbon use (see panel) but what about the government, shouldn’t it be leading the way? It may seem like we are doing nothing as a country but there is been a National Allocation Plan for Cyprus (NAP), established as part of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, that will be set in motion next year. “A scheme has been established for greenhouse gas emissions within the European Union,” said Theopemptou. Through the introduction of wind power and bio-fuels, the government will be adding to its list of ways to reduce our carbon footprint. At present, solar energy is the only renewable energy form making a sizeable contribution to the energy balance, at 4.0 per cent, but authorities have committed to boost the contribution of renewables to 9.0 per cent of total energy by 2010, with the use of renewables in electricity generation to reach 6.0 per cent. “By 2010, approximately 70 million euros will be provided as investment and operational aid to encourage renewable energy sources and energy savings,” said Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister, Antonis Michaelides. Fossil fuels that are now firing Cyprus’ energy grids represent 16 per cent of the island’s total import bill.
So there are reduction targets and we are yet to meet ours. Despite being blessed with all those days of sunshine; we are, quite simply, not using our natural resources.
In common with most countries around the globe, our use of electricity keeps rising as the number of electronic gadgets we cannot live without increases and homes are not sufficiently insulated to reduce reliance on heating during the winter and air conditioning in the summer. With televisions left on stand-by and phone chargers left plugged into the wall, energy is still being wasted. Touch the plugs and they feel warm – that is electricity being wasted.
Transport also counts towards your carbon footprint, and the worst offender is flying, especially short-haul flights. Aviation’s impact on climate is increased because jet emissions are made high in the atmosphere, where they can do most damage. The greenhouse impact of carbon dioxide is also augmented by warming from water vapour in contrails, as well as other gases emitted by the aircraft. If you are worried about your annual holiday, think about Victoria Beckham who once chartered a private jet (at a cost of £21,000) to get her to Germany in time for David’s World Cup match when her plane from Madrid was grounded due to engine failure. That trip alone would equal many people’s annual carbon emissions.
Meanwhile, each customer of Ryanair emits 600kg of carbon dioxide, so to offset its impact on the climate, Ryanair needs to plant a staggering 16.5 million trees a year. More locally, the electricity authority of Cyprus would have to plant 165,000 trees to offset its footprint.
While it’s not necessary to start reforesting your garden, there are, not surprisingly, steps you can take. Make sure you have the correct tyre pressure and you could save about 140kg CO2 per year. Changing to low viscosity motor oil could save a further 45kg. Skipping flights will also massively reduce your impact, a short-haul flight uses 360kg of CO2 and a long-haul one up to 4,000kg. Replace short car journeys with biking and avoid about 240kg CO2 per year.
Everyone knows that recycling is good for the environment, and with more recycling initiatives becoming available around the island, it is becoming an easier habit to practise. But minimising your carbon footprint isn’t just thinking about how you dispose of waste, it’s also thinking about packaging and other non-recyclable products before you buy. If you buy water or other drinks, buy in 1.5l bottles instead of the equivalent amount in 0,5l bottles, you could save about 9kg CO2 per year. You can save almost the same amount (8kg) by using recycled bags when you go shopping.
How bad are you?
If you want to calculate your carbon footprint, click onto www.carbonfootprint.com
To calculate your car’s carbon emissions, click onto www.vcacarfueldata.com
To calculate the carbon emissions of flying, visit the website chooseclimate.org/flying
Reduce your footprint
l Reduce the temperature of your home by just 1°C and save up to 300kg CO² per household per year
l Programme the thermostat of your home to reduce the temperature at night or when you’re out of the house – you could save about 440kg CO²
l Replace single-glazed windows with double-glazing and save up to 350kg CO²
l Make sure your home is well insulated and save over 630kg CO² per household and year
l Increase the performance of your fridge by placing it in a cool environment and save up to 150kg CO² per year
l When replacing your old fridge/freezer buy one with European Grade A+ (with automatic defrost cycles) and save up to 210 kg CO² per year. The same goes for other appliances
l Replace five ordinary light bulbs in lamps used for around five hours a day with low energy bulbs and save about 250kg per year
l Switch off your air-conditioning unit for about four hours everyday and save about 300 kg per year
l Make sure you use the washing machine only when it’s full and save about 45 kg per year
l Dry clothes naturally instead of using a tumble dryer and save 280 kg per year
l Boil just enough water for your hot drink and save about 25kg CO2 per year. If all Europeans boiled just the water they needed, thus avoiding 1 litre of unnecessarily boiled water per day, the energy saved could power one third of Europe’s streetlights
l Install a low-flow showerhead and save about 230 kg CO2 per person per year
l Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth and save about 3 kg CO2 per year
l Make sure to
turn off or fix dripping taps and save about 20kg CO2 per year
