Carbon Neutral Waterford

Climate change is one of the major challenges for mankind this century. It is believed that the driving force behind these changing weather events is the rise in C02 levels caused by the burning of fossil fuels, be it oil, coal or gas. Carbon Dioxide is a naturally occurring gas in the atmosphere but a significant rise has been seen in the past thirty years. It is believed that it has been due mainly to human activity where the burning of fossil fuels is an integral part of the energy generation process. Too much C02 in the atmosphere provokes the Greenhouse Effect, meaning the Earth’s heat is trapped in the atmosphere preventing it from escaping out into space.

Consequently, a rise in the Earth's atmospheric and ocean temperatures happens. An average rise of 2°C in the Earth’s temperature could have a serious effect on how global weather patterns may behave in the future. The outcome of extensive research shows clearly the link between C02 concentration in atmosphere and the Earth's surface temperature. The amount of Carbon and other Green House Gas emissions (GHG), that a person is responsible for, is called a 'Carbon Footprint'. Reducing a person's carbon footprint reduces the effect of Global Warming.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has recently published its report, “Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis.” The IPCC is the international body responsible for ensuring policy-makers are updated accordingly on past, current and projected climatic trends. The report contains the starkest warnings yet about the influence of anthropogenic emissions on the environment.

It is now unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land. Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere, and biosphere have occurred. Observed increases in well-mixed greenhouse gas concentrations since around 1750 are unequivocally caused by human activities. C02 concentration is now the highest it has been in 2 million years. The full report can be accessed here.