Carbon Footprint Research Paper

TITLE: A descriptive study on the need of the reduction in carbon footprints NEED OF THE HOUR.

 INTRODUCTION :

An increase in carbon footprint due to an increase in the greenhouse gas emissions is the primary event associated with climate change that has led to global warming. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, “a carbon footprint includes direct emissions such as from driving a car as well as whatever emissions are required to consume any goods and services.”A carbon footprint often includes the measure of other greenhouse gas emissions as well.

Carbon footprint is useful for individuals and organizations to conceptualize their personal or organizational impact in contributing to global warming as it is a measure of the impact

Krishna at a U.N. roundtable event in New York had expressed that nearly 200 million Indians live on less than $1 a day and nearly 500 million do not have access to modern sources of energy. He also suggested that the industrialized countries should to cut their carbon emissions "at least 40 percent by 2020" from 1990 levels and asked them to consider changes in lifestyle patterns to achieve this shift. He also added that we cannot get away from the fundamental fact that unsustainable lifestyles and patterns of production and consumption in the developed world have caused climate change which cannot continue. He also emphasized the importance of focusing on climate change adaptation as well as mitigation and stated that developing countries must be supported financially, technologically and with capacity-building resources so that they can cope with the immense challenges of

The more activities with large carbon footprints use resources, the more would be the increase in greenhouse gases which would further spur climate change. It has been suggested by the Environmental Protection Agency that consideration of different energy supplies and conservation of current ones will be needed to balance energy demand. In order to reduce the negative effects of carbon footprints it is vital to reduce carbon dioxide emissions as much as possible and off-set the remaining emissions by planting trees or supporting alternative energy efforts.

2. Effects on the Environment:

There are profound effects on the environment on account of an increase in our carbon footprints. Due to the rising temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns there have been changes in the growing patterns of plants which has resulted in indigenous vegetation moving to increasingly cooler climates. Sea levels are rising as the temperature of our planet increases and warmer water occupies more space than cooler water. These rising seas will not only erode shorelines and destroy ecosystems but also completely displace the coastal cities and towns.

3. Effects on Wildlife: