by Greg Dunn

Created on: March 04, 2010   Last Updated: March 22, 2010

As the term Climate Change - more politically correct term than the original phrase Global Warming –  has jumped to the forefront of today’s issues; other terms are creeping into the populace lingo.  “Carbon Footprints” is one of these.  A carbon footprint is a measurement of greenhouse gases produced in correlation with our day-to-day activities.  The footprint can be assessed to an individual, business, activity, corporation and a nation.

Some facts are undisputable when discussing planet Earth and its climate.  Since 1880, the average temperature has climbed 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit, with the last two decades being the hottest in the last 400 years.  Polar Ice caps are melting and the obvious increase violence of weather storms, i.e. hurricanes and wild fires are just a few examples the ecosystems of the planet is changing.    

A direct scientific reason for the warming is because more greenhouse gases are being released into the atmosphere.  Some are naturally occurring such as Carbon Dioxide, Methane and Nitrous Oxide. Others are man-made industrial gases like Hydrofluorocarbons, Perfluorocarbons and Sulfur hexafluoride.   The “Greenhouse Effect” is when the atmosphere allows the powerful energy from the sun to penetrate and hit the Earth.  The earth absorbs it and then reflects it back sending infrared radiation.  Some of the radiation is allowed to pass back in to space.  But, a lot of it is trapped because of the above mention greenhouse gases preventing it from escaping the atmosphere; causing the world to heat up.    

A carbon footprint has two parts.  A primary footprint is where you are directly responsible for the activity that is causing the emission of carbon.  Examples of these are driving a car, home utilities, electricity, eating and drinking, etc. The second part is called a secondary footprint.  This is where you are indirectly responsible for the emissions through the lifetime of a product you are using.  An example of a secondary footprint is the amount of greenhouse gases released when producing the wrapping that goes around consumer goods to make it more appealing.

 As more and more people are becoming rightfully concerned with the changing climate of the globe.  They are wondering what they could do to slow down and stop the warming and possible ultimate destruction of life as we know it on the Earth.   By becoming aware and  knowing your carbon footprint you can plan  on ways to lessen your carbon trail.   Thereby reducing the amount of greenhouse gases you are responsible for being released into the atmosphere.  The few minor changes you can make in your life; will greatly affect the footprint you are currently leaving behind.

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