What is a sustainable carbon footprint?
The UK government has committed itself to a 20% reduction in national CO2 emissions below 1990 levels by 2010 and the current climate change bill is committed to 80% reductions in CO2 emissions by 2050. These are voluntary commitments in addition to the 12.5% cut in greenhouse gases below 1990 levels agreed as part of the Kyoto Protocol. As yet little progress has been made. Indeed carbon dioxide emissions in the UK have increased in recent years. If the UK does indeed achieve the 80% target by 2050 this would mean a reduction from the present average of 10.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide per person to 2.4 tonnes per person per year by 2050.
A useful target would be to aim to reduce your personal carbon footprint to 8.5 tonnes – 75% of the UK average by 2015. This is equivalent to a reduction of 3% of CO2 emissions each year from 2008. A long-term goal should be to try and reduce it to less than 2 tonnes CO2 emissions per person (less than 20% of the current UK average). Only then will we begin to live within sustainable levels for our fragile earth.
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Useful links
Going carbon neutral Stirling A Scottish site recommending one tonne of carbon emissions with a good breakdown of current average emissions
Zero Carbon Britain Recommending strategies to help Britain become carbon neutral by 2027