Opinion
- Editorial- Commentary
Express
Editorial :
Expanding
his carbon footprint
Accepting the theory that carbon dioxide emissions
from the burning of fossil fuels is responsible
for global warming, sea level rise and climate
change, with all the attendant problems generated,
we must at the same time examine what we and other
nations are doing about it, at personal and national
levels. Many nations in the international community
are searching both for alternative energy sources
and, importantly, energy conservation measures,
including innovations that are more efficient users
of energy.
This is where the "carbon footprint" concept
seems to be entering the public consciousness.
In many countries in the northern temperate zone
it is now common for individuals and institutions
to determine or even calculate carbon footprints,
which are measures of the amounts of carbon dioxide
produced by individuals or enterprises. Whether
they be individual homes or places of business,
the lower the level of greenhouse gas emissions
the smaller the footprint and the smaller the effect
on climate change.
Using the Internet one can easily access simple
procedures to measure carbon footprints. A smaller
footprint can also mean lower costs for domestic
heating and transport.
And how do we stand? It depends on one's perspectives.
We have referred previously to the conflict between
absolute and per capita carbon dioxide emissions.
The total amount that we emit, our national footprint
and its impact on global warming, is about 35 million
tonnes, a minuscule quantity when compared with
the United States of America, Europe and China.
Our per capita output of carbon dioxide-about 30
tonnes -is also our average individual footprint,
and is also one of the highest in the world,
and surely not a carbon footprint that might
be applied across the board in all countries.
But at the same time at a national level carbon
footprints vary over a wide range, in different
sectors and between different economic activities
and lifestyles. Electricity generation has a larger
footprint than, say, banking or insurance, while
a small tree crop farmer has a smaller footprint
than, say, a minister of government or a CEO of
an energy giant.
But it is when you look at the elites in our society
that you see the real distortions and spreading
of carbon footprints. After Uganda and Mr Manning's
call for urgency in dealing with the problem of
global warming and climate change, has his carbon
footprint been fixed, or even reduced?
If anything it has spread with the demands of
his new residence and centre, and the supporting
staff, as well as the security staff and their
fleet of SUVs. And soon to be added are the emissions
of an executive jet, all to spare him minor inconveniences
that citizens all have to endure.
The
Trinidad Express is one of Trinidad newsdaily.
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commentary was originally published by Trinidad Express, Saturday,
March 8th 2008. Petroleumworld
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News 03/09/08
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