INTRODUCTION FOR ECO-CONSCIOUS INDIVIDUALS
Measure, reduce, offset.
By being conscious of the choices you make and their effects on the environment, you can reduce your own carbon footprint and offset your unavoidable emissions to support the transition to a low-carbon sustainable future.
Go Climate Positive!
We all have a role to play in the fight against climate change. Our actions,
however small, can have a profound impact when combined with thousands of others wanting to make a difference.
KEY
kgCO2e - kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent
tCO2e - tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent
MtCO2e - million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent
GtCO2e - giga tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent
* under the conditional NDC scenario>>
- references and assumptions
-
Activities
Assumptions (based on one year)
Source of data
Drink bottled water vs tap water
Drinking 2 litres per day
How Bad are Bananas?: The Carbon Footprint of Everything - Mike Berners-Lee
A weekend newspaper - to landfill vs recycled
Once a week
How Bad are Bananas?: The Carbon Footprint of Everything - Mike Berners-Lee
Buy asparagus - air-freighted long-haul vs local + seasonal
Once a month
How Bad are Bananas?: The Carbon Footprint of Everything - Mike Berners-Lee
Take a bath vs take a shower
Once per day
How Bad are Bananas?: The Carbon Footprint of Everything - Mike Berners-Lee
Dishwasher at 65°C vs at 55°C
Dishwasher running twice per week
How Bad are Bananas?: The Carbon Footprint of Everything - Mike Berners-Lee
Drive by car vs take a train or bus
Travelling 12,000 miles/year
How Bad are Bananas?: The Carbon Footprint of Everything - Mike Berners-Lee
Wash at 40°C - tumble dry vs at 30°C - dry on the line
2 washes per week
How Bad are Bananas?: The Carbon Footprint of Everything - Mike Berners-Lee
100 watt incandescent bulb vs low energy bulb
Consumption over one year
How Bad are Bananas?: The Carbon Footprint of Everything - Mike Berners-Lee
High meat diet >100g/day vs plant-based diet
Average daily intake of 2000 Kcal per day
University of Oxford Study: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10584-014-1169-1
Holiday in New York by plane
Just transport from London to New York return economy
https://www.atmosfair.de/en/offset/flight/
Holiday in South of France by train
Just transport from London to Marseille return on train
https://www.dw.com/en/trains-vs-planes-whats-the-real-cost-of-travel/a-45209552
Location
Population
Source of data
Population of the EU
508 Million
https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/figures/living_en
Population of North America
579 Million
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_continents_by_population
Type of data
Figure
Source of data
Emissions Gap
The gap in 2030 between emission levels under full implementation of conditional NDCs and those consistent with least-cost pathways to the 2°C target is 13 GtCO2e.
Go Climate Positive!
We all have a role to play in the fight against climate change. Our actions,
however small, can have a profound impact when combined with thousands of others wanting to make a difference.
KEY
kgCO2e - kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent
tCO2e - tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent
MtCO2e - million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent
GtCO2e - giga tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent
Tips to reduce your daily footprint
HOME
When Ecology makes a rhyme wih economy
- Turn off lights
- Turn down heating
- Properly insulate + draught proof homes
- Switch to energy efficient lightbulbs
- Unplug devices
- Plant a garden
- Line dry your clothes
- Switch to paperless billing
TRAVEL
Reducing mileage of the average new car from 24,000 to 16,000 km a year will save more than a tonne of CO2
- Walk or cycle to work
- Switch to public transport
- Lease electric cars
- Reduce airline travel
SHOPPING
Apple says that 80% of the carbon footprint of a new laptop comes from manufacturing and distribution, not use in the home
- Recycle + re-use wherever possible
- Consume less - buy fewer but better things
- Buy sustainably-produced food + goods
- Identify eco-friendly goods (Fairtrade mark, Marine Stewardship Council label, Forest Stewardship Council)
FOOD
For the ancient Greeks, to be a vegetarian had ritual, philosophical and medical purposes.
- Eat less meat - livestock (especially beef + lamb)
- Buy locally-sourced, seasonal foods
- Reduce or eliminate your consumption of bottled water
ENERGY
Reducing mileage of the average new car from 24,000 to 16,000 km a year will save more than a tonne of CO2
- Switch to an electricity tariff supplied by renewable energy sources
- Invest in your own sources of renewable energy
- Support suppliers that are working to provide 100% clean energy
ADVOCATE
Apple says that 80% of the carbon footprint of a new laptop comes from manufacturing and distribution, not use in the home
Look out for companies that have set a Science Based Target
- Vocally support clean energy with friends, family and colleagues
- Tell your representatives how you value renewables and climate-friendly policies
- Vote with your wallet! Support businesses that take climate action
Measure your carbon footprint
Understand how your travel, energy use, diet and other lifestyle choices make an impact on the climate by using WWF’s carbon footprint calculator
Average monthly CO2 emissions per capita
1 ton/month or less
Most of European countries, emerging economies and developing countries
2 tons/month
Australia, Canada, Estonia, Luxembourg, United States + several oil exporting countries
3 tons/month or more
Curacao, Kuwait, Qatar, Trinidad & Tobago
Climate+ projectS also support local communities
In addition to protecting the climate, every Gold Standard Climate+ project also supports local communities with sustainable development benefits like providing safe drinking water, protecting forests, improving health or creating local jobs
Offset your unavoidable emissions
Most of us cannot yet reduce our carbon footprint to zero. After reducing your climate impact, you can support the transition to a low-carbon future by offsetting your unavoidable emissions with high-impact carbon credits from Gold Standard-certified projects.
CLEAN WATER ACCESS
$12.00 USD/TONNE
BIOGAS
$19.00 USD/TONNE
WIND
$10.00 USD/TONNE
SOLAR
$12.00 USD/TONNE
COOKSTOVES
$15.00 USD/TONNE
FORESTRY
$18.00 USD/TONNE
Why offset with Gold Standard?
In a word, impact. We’re considered the most rigorous climate standard by many NGOs, including WWF and the David Suzuki Foundation. This means that every dollar, Euro, pound or peso you spend offsetting creates more value for local communities and ecosystems and contributes in a measurable way to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
We’ve even quantified it. Check out the independent study on the economic value delivered from Gold Standard-certified projects.