BaCCC/Module 4/Lesson 2/Part 2
Mitigation strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Every one of us has a responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint in the different places where we live and work.
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People can minimise their carbon footprint and help the environment in many different ways. Small changes can add up. In brief, to reduce their carbon footprint, people will want to do things like reduce the amount of energy that they use, eat fewer animal products, shop locally, travel “smarter” and reduce waste.
To make things clearer, let us focus specifically on how to reduce our carbon footprint in several areas of life, whether at home, work, school or while travelling.
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Let’s start with some steps to reduce carbon emissions at home. Most of these are fairly quick and easy to implement, meaning you can start living an eco-friendlier life in no time at all. Insulating your home: Heating a living space can be an expensive and energy-intensive process. Insulating places such as house lofts and walls will help the house retain heat during the winter and stay cool in summer. It means less use of energy, thereby reducing the carbon footprint and household bills. Switching to renewables: Energy providers around the world are now offering greener choices. By switching to a company that provides electricity from solar, wind or hydroelectric energy, both household emissions and energy bills can go down. Install solar panels if they are inexpensive and readily available where you live. Buying energy-efficient appliances: Electrical appliances are becoming more efficient by the year. Some countries are subsidising the purchase of energy-efficient appliances, and many countries now show how efficient particular products are, which means that people can make an informed choice. Whether it is buying energy-saving lightbulbs or choosing appliances with a high Energy Star rating, people can make their homes more eco-friendly. Furthermore, to avoid wasted “phantom power,” be sure to turn off and unplug anything you are not using. Using less water: It takes energy and resources to process and deliver water to homes, whether through municipal pipes, a well or by human labour. It is also quite energy-intensive to heat it once it is there. So, using less water can help the environment and lower your carbon footprint: turn off the tap when you brush your teeth or wash the dishes, have short showers rather than baths and only boil the amount of water that is needed. Changing your diet: The food that people eat can have a significant impact on the environment. For example, meat and dairy products require a lot of land, water and energy to produce. They also create a lot of methane – a greenhouse gas. Food shipped from overseas uses a lot more resources than local produce. Eating fewer animal products, especially industrialised red meat (or choosing a plant-based diet), and shopping for locally sourced food can make a big difference. Support the local farmers’ market, or grow your own garden. |
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Reducing emissions is something that can be done outside of the home too. Whether people make individual changes at work or company-wide policy adjustments, the activities can soon add up. Turning off the lights: Powering empty rooms and office space is a huge energy drain. Making sure to turn off lights and appliances when they are not in use will lead to energy savings. Installing automatic, movement-sensing lights and energy-saving LED bulbs will also address the issue. Going digital: It has never been easier to collaborate with others online. Whether by sharing documents using cloud storage or video conferencing instead of travelling, businesspeople can reduce waste and emissions. People should try to move away from printed documents where possible and encourage others to work on their digital skills for the workplace. Cycling to work: Cycling and walking are two of the most environmentally friendly ways to travel. Not only are they good for the planet, but they are also good for your health. People should choose to cycle or walk to work whenever possible. Employers might even have a scheme that can help their workers to purchase a bicycle. They should certainly have a safe place for employees to lock up their bicycles. Reducing, reusing and recycling: Companies of all sizes use a host of different products in their day-to-day running. Things like paper, electronic devices, packaging and water all have a carbon footprint. Reducing the amount of waste that people generate, reusing information technology equipment and recycling waste can make a real difference. Eliminating single-use plastic: Single-use plastics may be convenient, but they are made with fossil fuels and, therefore, are dreadful for the environment. Not only do they pollute waterways and oceans, but they also require energy to produce and recycle. You can stop using things such as disposable coffee cups and cutlery to reduce the carbon footprint of the company. |
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Here are just a few ideas for lowering a school’s greenhouse gas emissions. Raising awareness: Raise awareness in the school community about greenhouse gases, carbon footprints and climate change. Things like school projects and fundraising events can help to educate learners and their families about the importance of protecting the environment. This can inspire others to reduce their footprints. Composting: Composting is surprisingly good for the environment, especially as food waste is such a big issue. Setting up a composting scheme at the school can help to reduce landfill methane emissions. Plus, this type of compost is free, does not use energy to produce and is good for the school gardens. Switching off computers: An information technology laboratory with rows of idling computers takes up a lot of energy. The energy bills and carbon footprint of the school can be reduced by keeping electronic devices turned off and unplugged when not in use. Using local, plant-based foods: This is a tip that can be applied to just about every area of life. Locally grown produce takes less energy to transport and supports the economy where people live. Plant-based foods are less carbon-intensive. Getting schools to switch to local, sustainable, plant-based food for the kitchen will help lower greenhouse gas emissions and help local businesses. Taking local trips: Take field trips that are nearby. Instead of going to far-flung destinations that require planes, trains or buses, people should choose something close by. This way, the emissions will be far lower, and people will contribute to their communities. |
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Travel can cause a significant amount of carbon emissions. However, by making some adjustments, people can make sure that their trips have as low an impact as possible. Using public transport: Petrol cars and taxis tend to emit a lot of carbon dioxide per kilometre of travel. These greenhouse gas emissions are usually only split between a few people, making it quite an energy-intensive way to get around. Public transport, such as trains and buses, carries many people and is often a more sustainable form of travel. Flying direct (or not flying at all): The carbon footprint of flying can be larger than any other mode of transport. While a train may emit six grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre travelled, a domestic flight produces 133 grams of CO2 and 121 grams of other emissions. When people do have to fly, they should aim to reduce the number of stops on their route, ideally by flying directly to their destination. Vacationing close to home: In many developed countries, flying to a distant location for a holiday can be a family’s biggest carbon expenditure per year (or is second only to their automobile use). Taking a vacation closer to home (a “staycation”) is less costly, money-wise and carbon-wise, and contributes to the local economy. Offsetting the carbon: Many airlines and travel companies now offer people the chance to offset their carbon emissions. Essentially, this is where people pay money on top of the cost of their ticket to fund projects aimed at reducing their carbon footprint. These carbon offsets cover all kinds of incentives, such as restoring forests and making energy and transportation more efficient. Packing a water bottle and reusable mug: Although people often cannot take liquids in their carry-on luggage, they can pack an empty water bottle. Having a reusable container for their water means people can cut down on single-use plastic bottles, thereby cutting the carbon footprint for the manufacture and transport of each bottle. Thinking green: No matter where people are, where they go or what they do, they can take an environmentally friendly approach and leave as light a carbon footprint as possible. |
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Community or municipal and national governments focus their mitigation efforts in other areas. You can urge them to make these efforts by writing to your elected officials, phoning them, sending them e-mails or visiting them. Or you can write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper or publish a plea to your government on social media to do the following:
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References
- ↑ Franke James, n.d. My SUV and Me Say Goodbye
