The UK set itself a target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20% from 1990 levels by 2010, but according to its own figures it will fall short of this target by almost 4%.
Whenever you burn fossil fuels such as gas, coal or oil, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. In a natural carbon cycle, carbon dioxide is re-absorbed by plants and trees. However, we are burning fuels where the carbon dioxide has been trapped under the earth’s surface for millions of years, and we’re doing it so quickly that plants and trees that are alive now have no chance of soaking it up (and it doesn’t help that we’re cutting down rainforests as well).
The effect of all this extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is that the overall temperature of the planet is increasing (global warming). Whilst the average global temperature is increasing, on a day-to-day level the climate is changing in unpredictable ways (from floods and hurricanes to heat waves and droughts). To try and reduce the risk of ever more extreme weather, we need to reduce how much fossil fuel we are burning. This isn’t easy.
Age-related carbon footprint
A number of studies have calculated the carbon footprint of organisations and nations. One UK study by the Stockholm Environment Institute (Gary Haq et al., 2007) examined age-related carbon emissions based on expenditure and consumption. The study found that on average people aged 50–65 years have a higher carbon footprint than any other age group. Individuals aged 50–55 years old have a carbon footprint of approximately 13.5 tonnes/capita per year compared to the UK average of 12 tonnes.
Carbon Labeling
A carbon label, which shows the life cycle carbon emissions or carbon footprint embodied in a product in bringing it to the shelf, was introduced in the UK in March 2007 by the Carbon Trust. The label is closely linked to a collaboration between The Carbon Trust and The British Standards Institute. The label is intended to comply with a new British Standard, PAS2050, and is being actively piloted by The Carbon Trust and various industrial partners.
Examples of products which already feature this carbon footprint label include Walkers Crisps, a smoothie product from Innocent Drinks, and a shampoo product produced by Boots Group.
Walkers Crips have been actively promoting Carbon Footprinting since their pilot programme; illustrating the advantage to companies with their saving of 4,800 tonnes of CO2 and £400,000 since their project was certified by the Carbon Trust.