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CO2 Offset Calculators
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There are a number of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. The most significant, by virtue of the huge volumes produced, is Carbon Dioxide. Some gases are much more powerful than CO2 (1 tonne of nitrous oxide for example is equivalent to 310 tonnes of CO2) but are much less prevalent. For this reason, greenhouse gases tend to be reported as tonnes of CO2 equivalent. This is sometimes reported as CO2e or just CO2. Greenhouse gases are an inevitable product of the way we all live today. They are produced primarily through the burning of fossil fuels in:
- Electricity generation
- The powering of vehicles, trains and aircraft
- Home heating and cooking (gas, wood, coal, oil).
It is widely accepted amongst a global coalition of meteorologists and associated scientists that the Earth’s atmosphere is warming rapidly and that this change has been brought about by the activities of humans.
Put simply, gases released into the atmosphere by human activity are forming an insulating barrier around the Earth, preventing the natural release of heat from our atmosphere. There are a number of gases that are held responsible for this process, which is sometimes referred to as ‘the greenhouse effect’. While methane and other gases contribute to the problem, the chief culprit, by virtue of the volumes produced, is carbon dioxide.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) co-ordinates the review and assessment of the science of climate change. In its fourth assessment report (2007), the IPCC concluded that:
"We can be very confident that the net effect of human activity since 1750 has been one of warming."
Current climate models suggest that global temperatures could warm from between 1.4 to 5.8°C over the next 100 years. The potential social, environmental and economic costs associated with this are huge.
The USA is one of the largest producers of greenhouse gas emissions in the world with around a quarter of the world's emissions. To date, the USA has not taken an active role in the global greenhouse reduction initiatives (e.g.The Kyoto Protocol).
There are many potentially serious consequences arising from climate change including:
- More extreme weather, including prolonged dry spells, flooding, severe storms, extreme heat and cold and the consequences that these weather patterns have for agriculture, human habitation and property damage in the UK and abroad
- Increase in desertification
- Spread of tropical diseases to previously unaffected areas.
You Can Make a Difference
As well as being essential help stabilise levels of carbon dioxide in the global atmosphere, carbon reduction also yields early financial benefits. The way that we use energy is often wasteful and can be substantially improved. See Reduce Your CO2 Emissions for ideas on what you can do. However, it is not going to be possible for most people or businesses to completely eliminate their carbon footprints. After taking all sensible carbon reduction steps, it makes absolute sense to ‘neutralise’ or offset those emissions that it has not been possible to remove. To do otherwise is simply to ignore our continuing contribution to climate change. You can make a difference by investing in one of co2balance’s managed projects. These projects are entirely additional, i.e. they would not otherwise happen but for our clients’ funds and comprise:
- Renewable Energy;
- Energy Efficiency; and
- Afforestaion
All projects are operated to the highest standard and are subject to the CarbonZero Guarantee. This means that no matter what happens, co2balance guarantees to offset the amount of greenhouse gases for which it has been paid.
Our simple yet robust CO2 calculators, can help you obtain an idea of how much carbon dioxide you are responsible for producing each year. Businesses should complete the Contact Form in order to see how we can help improve understanding of you carbon footprint. Some of our services to businesses are free of charge and others are charged for on a consultancy basis.
