Understand your emissions
Overview
Carbon Literacy is an awareness of the carbon dioxide costs and impacts of everyday activities, and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions, on an individual, community and organisational basis.
The use of the term ‘carbon literacy’ is increasingly widespread in everyday language and often refers to The Carbon Literacy Project.
Evidence shows that the vast majority of people do not understand the carbon cost of their everyday activities - this is a key focus of the Carbon Literacy Project. Alongside this, education on the big challenges the environment faces is very important. There are a number of factors that have a huge effect on the planet’s carbon levels.
On this page you will find out more about the Carbon Literacy Project, how to understand your own emissions using the Carbon Footprint Calculator and what steps you can take to limit your carbon footprint.
Carbon Literacy
The Carbon Literacy Project focuses on the need for societal engagement in order to help reduce the effects of climate change. The organisation believes that through individuals, organisations, schools and public bodies understanding the effects of climate change, society can begin to make changes that will actively contribute to the betterment of the environment.
The aim of the Carbon Literacy Project is in line with current scientific research – cutting our carbon emissions by 2050. Carbon Literacy is a crucial element in this aim. Carbon Literacy acts to educate, provide relevance, motivation, and also supplies tangible evidence of the growth of low carbon culture. The Carbon Literacy Project focuses not just on the creation and delivery of training, but on necessary, effective means of public engagement.
Understand your own emissions
Most people do not realise the impact their everyday lives have on the environment. Understanding our own carbon footprint is the first step we should all take to make a difference. Use the Carbon Footprint Calculator to work out your personal carbon footprint and get an idea of how your lifestyle is affecting the environment.
The average carbon footprint in IG1 is 13.6 tonnes per year. This is equal to 130% of the UK average for 2022. The 2022 UK emission target is currently 10.5 tonnes assuming the UK per capita footprint follows the same trajectory as the UK Climate Change Committee's Balanced Net Zero Pathway.
How to limit your carbon footprint?
Mossy Earth provides some great information on understanding how your carbon footprint can help limit the impact of your consumption on the environment.
Avoid Mass Market, Throw Away Fashion
The clothing sector generates 10% of all global carbon emissions and remains the second biggest industrial polluter.
Reduce your Meat and Diary Consumption
Livestock and their by-products account for at least 32,000 million tons of CO2 per year, or 51% of all worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.
Refuse Single-Use Plastic
300 million tons of plastic are produced globally each year. Without intervention, the amount of emissions from plastic will consume 17% of the global carbon budget by 2050!
Reduce and Rethink your Transportation
transportation releases a devastating percentage of CO2 into our atmosphere – 13% of all greenhouse gas emissions!
Switch to Green Energy
Regardless of climate change, there are limitations on the availability of fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, and coal, while “green electricity” is becoming cheaper and more readily available.
You can also find out ways to reduce your emissions at home by visiting our page - Tips to reduce your emissions
