What is climate change?
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, such as through variations in the solar cycle. However, since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat, and raising temperatures (United Nations, 2022)
A Carbon Footprint is defined by the total amount of greenhouse gases, including Carbon Dioxide and Methane, which is generated by our daily actions. It is called a footprint as it creates an image in individuals’ minds that we do leave a trace. What products we consume or how we use them impacts our personal footprint.
In the last 150 years the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased by nearly 50%. Below is a short video outlining the CO2 levels from the 1980s until today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UatUDnFmNTY
How do you measure your carbon footprint?
The carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases that is emitted. This includes all greenhouses gases as well as CO2. There are several ways to measure your carbon footprint. The easiest way is through a carbon calculator. We have linked a number of these carbon calculators below to allow you to work out your carbon impact:
https://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator1.html
There are many things as an individual, organisation or community that you can do to lower your carbon impact. Here are some tips below of how you can reduce your own carbon emissions.
Carbon offsetting and tree planting
Carbon offsetting is about finding more solutions to climate change. Carbon offsetting is one of the ways that we can compensate for our emissions by funding an equivalent CO2 saving somewhere else. This is where our tree planting mission comes in. At the Fair Earth Foundation our goal is to plant 1million trees in 2022 and with your help we believe this is possible!
We are contributing our best efforts to meet the sustainable development goals as laid out by the United Nations. Our partnerships across the globe allow us to work towards these goals.
Goal 13: Climate Action
With our goal to plant 1 million trees in the next year, the aim is to aid the climate crisis through the absorption of CO2. Trees not only play a major part in action for climate change, but they also provide other benefits such as flood protection and food sources.
Goal 15: Life on Land
The Fair Earth Foundation works to protect life on land by creating partnerships with charity organisations around the globe. We are working with communities in Nigeria, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, and many more to plant trees and sustainably manage the land. This will not only help the environment, but it will also help the flora and fauna to thrive.
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, such as through variations in the solar cycle. However, since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat, and raising temperatures (United Nations, 2022)
A Carbon Footprint is defined by the total amount of greenhouse gases, including Carbon Dioxide and Methane, which is generated by our daily actions. It is called a footprint as it creates an image in individuals’ minds that we do leave a trace. What products we consume or how we use them impacts our personal footprint.
In the last 150 years the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased by nearly 50%. Below is a short video outlining the CO2 levels from the 1980s until today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UatUDnFmNTY
How do you measure your carbon footprint?
The carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases that is emitted. This includes all greenhouses gases as well as CO2. There are several ways to measure your carbon footprint. The easiest way is through a carbon calculator. We have linked a number of these carbon calculators below to allow you to work out your carbon impact:
https://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator1.html
There are many things as an individual, organisation or community that you can do to lower your carbon impact. Here are some tips below of how you can reduce your own carbon emissions.
- Walk/use public transport- share a car with your friend or neighbour or opt to walk!
- Eat less meat- did you know that producing a kilogram of beef produces the equivalent of 60kg of CO2?
- Turn off your lights and water when you are not using them!
- Use less plastic by opting for loose fresh food and bring your own reusable bags with you when you visit the supermarket.
Carbon offsetting and tree planting
Carbon offsetting is about finding more solutions to climate change. Carbon offsetting is one of the ways that we can compensate for our emissions by funding an equivalent CO2 saving somewhere else. This is where our tree planting mission comes in. At the Fair Earth Foundation our goal is to plant 1million trees in 2022 and with your help we believe this is possible!
We are contributing our best efforts to meet the sustainable development goals as laid out by the United Nations. Our partnerships across the globe allow us to work towards these goals.
Goal 13: Climate Action
With our goal to plant 1 million trees in the next year, the aim is to aid the climate crisis through the absorption of CO2. Trees not only play a major part in action for climate change, but they also provide other benefits such as flood protection and food sources.
Goal 15: Life on Land
The Fair Earth Foundation works to protect life on land by creating partnerships with charity organisations around the globe. We are working with communities in Nigeria, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, and many more to plant trees and sustainably manage the land. This will not only help the environment, but it will also help the flora and fauna to thrive.