Retail Offsets - Why Offset Your Personal Emissions

Climate change is strongly linked to the phenomenon known as global warming, caused by a build up of gases within the Earth's atmosphere. These gases arising from human activity are commonly referred to as greenhouse gases, a majority of which is carbon dioxide (CO2). Climate change and drastic fluctuations in weather patterns are taking a toll on our Earth, having disastrous effects such as:

  • Melting polar ice caps are raising sea levels around the globe, leaving polar bears without a habitat and submerging small islands in the South Pacific.
  • Extreme weather, including droughts and floods, occurring more frequently and with greater intensity.
  • Increased incidence and intensity of hurricanes, bushfires and other climatic events that threaten our environment, our lifestyles and our future.

Climate change is the major environmental challenge of our lifetime and we all have a responsibility to do something about it. Human contribution to climate change comes in the form of greenhouse gases and therefore it is up to us to change that.


Did you know?

  • That the average Australian household produces about 14 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year?1
  • Each tonne of paper waste that ends up in landfill requires one cubic metre of space, and produces 2.5 tonnes of greenhouse gases.2
  • That over one year a computer and monitor left on all the time requires the energy produced from burning 500 kilograms of coal which produces more than 1000 kilograms of carbon dioxide. This single computer is equivalent to the green house gas emissions produced by an average car driving 3700km.3
  • The average Australian car emits 4.5 tonnes of C02 per year.4
  • There are currently 11 million cars and trucks in Australia consuming about 26 billion litres of fuel a year and emitting approximately 71 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere.4
  • At 0.27 kg of CO2 per kilometre, air travel produces by far the largest amount of GHG emissions per passenger kilometre of any form of transportation. By comparison, a single-occupant vehicle produces 0.20 kg of CO2 per kilometre, and a bus produces 0.07 kg of CO2 per kilometre per passenger.5
  • Since European settlement, half of Australia's forests and three quarters of its rainforests have been cleared and over 90% of old growth forests have been logged.6
  • That by modifying our behaviours to become more energy efficient and less wasteful, we can make a positive impact on climate change.

Everything we do, whether it is driving our kids to school, heating or cooling our homes, powering our businesses or travelling by air, generates greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. But we can all make a difference. The first thing you can do is to take steps to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions, such as switching off any appliances that aren't in use and riding your bike instead of driving to work.

Other Ways to Reduce Your Emissions

Once you've reduced as much as you can, the next step is to offset the remaining, unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions (like the ones from your next overseas trip) through the CO2 AUSTRALIA™ Carbon Sequestration Program to neutralise your impact on the Earth's environment. By investing in offsets, you are neutralising your remaining greenhouse gas emissions.

Whether you're an individual looking out for future generations or a business ready to tackle sustainability issues, the CO2 AUSTRALIA™ Carbon Sequestration Program can help you take action with just a few clicks of the mouse. Follow on to our emissions calculator to find out what you can do to make a difference.

References:
1. Australian Greenhouse Office
2. Sustainability Victoria
3. Greening Astrophysics, University of New South Wales
4. Australian National University
5. European Climate Change Program, European Commission
6. Australian Conservation Foundation

Calculate your emissions now!