By: James Brown IV

A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day- to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation etc. The carbon footprint is a measurement of all greenhouse gases we individually produce and has units of tonnes (or kg) of carbon dioxide equivalent.

The average American citizen gives off about 27 tons of carbon dioxide gases per year. The global average is about 5.5 tons of carbon dioxide per person. Turn down your central heating by just 1 or 2 degrees. Fill your dish washer and washing machine with a full load - this will save you water, electricity, and washing powder. Unplug your mobile phone as soon as it has finished charging. Do your weekly shopping in a single trip. Hang out the washing to dry rather than tumble drying it. Go for a run rather than drive to the gym.

Rising global temperatures will cause sea level to rise and alter local climate conditions, affecting forests, crop yields, and water supplies. It may also affect human health, animals, and many types of ecosystems. Deserts may expand and some of our countryside may be permanently altered. Climate model simulations predict an increase in average surface air temperature of about 2.5°C by the year The likelihood of "killer" heat waves during the warm season will increase. The IPCC Second Assessment Report estimates that sea-levels will rise by approximately 49 cm over the next 100 years, with a range of uncertainty of cm. Further melting of the Arctic Ice Caps (at the current rate) could be sufficient to turn off the ocean currents that drive the Gulf Stream, which keeps Britain up to 6°C warmer than it would otherwise be.

Carbon Offsets can be used to compensate for the emissions produced by funding an equivalent carbon dioxide saving somewhere else. Offsetting provides a mechanism to reduce GHG emissions in the most cost-effective and economically- efficient manner. Offsetting plays a vital role in combating climate change, but is not alone, the solution.

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