BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | 'Unexpected growth' in CO2 found

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | 'Unexpected growth' in CO2 found
"About half of emissions from human activity are absorbed by natural "sinks" but the efficiency of these sinks has fallen, the study suggests."

A recent study by the Global Carbon Project has found that global levels of atmospheric CO2 increased 35% more quickly than previously predicted. Part of the increase is due to reductions in energy efficiency by fossil fuel using technologies. Technological gains achieved during the 1990s have slowed. The other major contribution comes from ‘positive feedbacks’ from our own climate system. As the world warms, greenhouse gases that have been ‘sequestered’ in the Earth’s sediments (ex. permafrost in Siberia), forests (deforestation) or oceans are now being released at a higher rate into the atmosphere. Temperature increases of 10 F or more in Arctic regions over the past 50 years have unleashed a wave of new methane emissions that may be almost impossible to arrest without urgent action to slow global warming.

Now is the time to personally commit to reducing our climate footprint! Government and industry has not taken sufficient action to reverse these trends.

Inexpensive Earth Day makeover to reduce your carbon footprint

One of the best ways to celebrate Earth Day is to take a few easy steps to reduce energy consumption around the house. Here are some really low cost-high impact purchases /suggestions that will reduce your carbon footprint:

1. Two cartons of rope caulk: Use to seal drafty windows from unwanted air infiltration.

2. Battery charger: Replace hundreds of disposable batteries by charging your own.

3. Small shopping bag: Get a "Chico Bag" which is a nylon bag that fits in your purse or pocket.

4. Tire air gauge: Keep those car tires properly inflated for better gas mileage and higher driving safety.

5. CFL bulbs: Switch out a few incandescent bulbs for CFL equivalents. Watch out for power company rebate programs that can make the new bulbs as cheap as the other technology.

6. Pick up two to three larger reusable shopping bags: These now come in all shapes and sizes. You can get them for virtually free from government or certain retailers.

7. Install low flow shower heads and faucet aerators: Reduce water flow from 2-3 gallons per minute to 1 gallon per minute. This will also cut back on your hot water bill.

8. Add a water displacement container to your existing toilets: This reduces water required for flushing.

9. Get a shower timer: Try to limit your shower time by using a timer. Any clock will do, or pick up an hour glass timer for a few dollars.

10. And, of course, your diet would not be complete without your own copy of The Climate Diet, your guide to easy lifestyle changes that can be adapted to almost any lifestyle to reduce your carbon footprint.

For more info, visit http://www.climatediet.com

Seattle ditches throw away bags

On April 2^nd Greg Nickels, Mayor of Seattle, announced a proposal to levy a 20 cent ‘green fee’ on all plastic shopping bags. The measure would also ban foam containers presently used by restaurants and other retail establishments. Seattleites use more than 360 million bags a year and tens of billions end up in the trash worldwide. Plastic bags are small in weight, but have an oversized effect on the environment. While recyclable, most end up in landfills, where they sit for hundreds of years while their toxic components slowly seep into the soil, potentially endangering water quality. They also pose a hazard to fish and wildlife. If enacted, Seattle would join a number of other countries and jurisdictions that have already levied taxes or banned plastic bags altogether including San Francisco, Sweden, Ireland and even China. To help people adjust to the new regime, the City promises to provide one reusable bag to every citizen. Says Nickels, "the answer to the question 'paper or plastic' is neither: Both harm the environment."

Want to learn more about how to cut your carbon footprint?

Don't forget to take a look at my new book, The Climate Diet, for easy to use lifestyle strategies that you can use to reduce your carbon footprint.

The Climate Diet is the must-have guide to the most important diet ever. If we all participate, the greenhouse gas emissions bulge can be beaten, leaving us with a slim healthy planet now and for the future. For more information about this book, visit http://www.climatediet.com.

Jonathan Harrington interviewed by Newsweek about 'food miles.'

Sounds Good, But ...

We can't afford to make any more mistakes in how to 'save the planet.' Start by ditching corn ethanol.

By Sharon Begley | NEWSWEEK

Apr 14, 2008 Issue

http://www.newsweek.com/id/130628

Sharon Begly, Senior Editor and science writer for Newsweek, recently interviewed Jonathan Harrington about the issue of 'food miles.’ The article, entitled "Sounds Good But...We can't afford to make any more mistakes in how to 'save the planet," addresses a number of prevailing misconceptions about how we can reduce our carbon footprint. For instance, many people believe that products produced close to home are invariably more climate friendly than those transported from far away. Unfortunately, this may not be the case. More often than not, emissions resulting from the transportation of products from the orchard, farm or factory floor to our local market only constitute a small percent of the total climate impact of our consumption. Let’s look at an example. UK based, The Carbon Trust, recently completed a ‘lifecycle analysis’ for potato chips made by Walkers, the UK’s largest snack food producer. In addition to transportation, raw material processing, manufacturing, marketing, storage, consumer use and disposal and recycling all contribute to the greenhouse gases that are warming our world. The study examined everything from potato production to cooking and distribution methods. The researchers found that farmer land use and production practices, energy used for frying, packaging and waste disposal contribute most to the carbon footprint of the product, while transportation accounted for only around 10% of total emissions.

Dr. Harrington does not say that consumers should not buy local. Supporting local producers, especially organic farmers, strengthens the local economy, government and community. But we should try not to over-inflate the significance of ‘food miles’ in our consumer behavior. And remember, the only surefire way for us to reduce our carbon footprint is to just consume less.