Carbon footprint – Responsible ways to save the planet

The carbon calculator, launched by the Change Campaign commissioned by the Department of the Environment, provides a ready means for people to determine their carbon footprint.

Thus it provides an opportunity for people to audit their lifestyle to determine ways of playing their part in reducing carbon emissions.

So many human activities contribute to carbon emissions — from showering in the morning, using lighting at night, or using automotive transportation to work or recreation. Sources of emissions can be segregated into the broad categories of energy or non-energy-related.

Energy-related emissions come from the generation of electricity, transportation, industry, and buildings where heating and other fuels are used. Non-energy emissions come from agriculture, forestry and waste disposal.

Environment Minister John Gormley admitted yesterday that he contributed almost three times the European average, despite using his bicycle. He had the good grace to admit this.

Ironically, his biggest problem was his flight to Bali last year for the climate change summit.

The biggest contributor to the average householder’s carbon footprint is air travel. But agriculture is the biggest contributor to the country’s emissions, especially the methane given off by cattle and sheep.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary and others, therefore, contend that we need to deal with our farting cows before we tackle the aviation sector. People are essentially ignoring the leading contributors.

Scientists are deeply divided about the causes of global warming. Some may argue about whether emissions are the cause or the activity of the sun is responsible. But the source for much of our energy is imported in the form of oil or coal.

Cutting down on those imports should help our economy. Providing suggestions on how people can cut down would be welcome as a means of healthier and cheaper living, as well as a boost for the economy.

Some of the trendy measures being advocated, however, could be particularly dangerous. We are already witnessing spiralling food prices, largely attributed to the diversion of agriculture into biofuels instead of food. As a result the cost of animal feed is going up and, along with it, the price of food itself.

We must ensure that famine and starvation in poor countries are not a replacement for carbon emissions in rich ones.