With 6.1billion people on the planet, climate change is something that should be on everybody's mind. Melting ice caps, rising tides and expanding deserts are just some of the ways the environment is reacting to the tons of daily toxins released into the atmosphere.
But what you may not know is that most of the damage being heaped on our planet is caused by our own hands. Running a car, using central heating and even going on holiday all produce harmful gases and use large amounts of energy.
Everyone has a carbon footprint, which is calculated through how much waste we produce on a daily basis. On average, each person in the UK produces 5.1 kilos of carbon dioxide in a year - releasing millions of tons of damaging waste into the atmosphere. The best way to calculate your personal carbon footprint is to visit
It won't take long to tell you how friendly your lifestyle is to the planet.
But with a few basic changes, we could offset the impact of our carbon emissions and help reduce the rapid rate of climate change.
Below are some of the best ways to help cut out waste and give something back to the planet, before it's too late.
HOW TO REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
1 CUT OUT PACKAGING. Buying loose fruit and veg, not wrapped in plastic helps to reduce your carbon levels as does reusing plastic shopping bags.
2 UK HOLIDAYS. Jetting off to sunny climes adds 1.3 tons to your yearly ratings. Stay at home and find out more about your home country.
3 WALK, DON'T DRIVE. Most of the 12,000 miles we drive annually are from runs of less than five miles. Ditching the car will not only help you get fit, it will also cut car emissions and the energy used to maintain the roads.
4 EAT SEASONALLY. One of the easiest ways to cut back carbon levels is to stop eating out of season food. Air and ship miles clocked up transporting things like kiwis, mangoes and bananas all add to your footprint.
5 USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT Opting for the train or the bus instead of using the car or even catching a flight can dramatically reduce your carbon limit by reducing the amount of fuel burned up and traffic volume.
6 IS IT REALLY NECESSARY? Going for a smaller car or becoming a one-car household is good news for the environment. Your car could also be converted into a vehicle that uses Liquefied Petroleum Gas - a cheaper and kinder fuel than petrol or diesel.
7 LOCAL IS BEST. Visiting local farmer's markets and delis not only reduces your transport and secondary carbon levels through food shipments but also supports local businesses too.
8 WASTE NOT. Five tons of everybody's carbon footprint is caused by consumer waste. Cola cans, plastic bottles and even cardboard all end up in the bin when they could be recycled.
HOW TO OFFSET YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
1 PLANT A TREE. This is the most common way to offset your carbon footprint. KT Tunstall and Coldplay plant trees to offset the environmental damage involved in producing their CDs.
Trees breathe in carbon dioxide and in return release oxygen and produce wood - essential for both humans and animals.
2 INVEST IN SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY. Renewable energy like wind, wave, solar and geothermal power are all worth supporting either through donations or investment.
Recycling on a regular basis, being aware of waste-to-energy projects in your area and even investing in an LPG-running car will also help to offset your carbon rating.
You could also give green-rated technology, such as low energy light bulbs to projects in developing countries such as Africa and Asia.
3 CARBON DIOXIDE CREDITS. These are the result of energy reduction projects that have taken place over the years where some companies buy in large volumes from a Climate Exchange Programme and are then sold on again.
By buying credits and not using them, no one else can use them which, in turn, offsets your carbon footprint.
Source: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk
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