RBA Green Tool Kit: Carbon Footprint

A carbon footprint is "the total set of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product" (UK Carbon Trust 2008). An individual, nation, or organization's carbon footprint is measured by undertaking a GHG emissions assessment. Once the size of a carbon footprint is known, a strategy can be devised to reduce it.

 

Carbon offsets, or the mitigation of carbon emissions through the development of alternative projects such as solar or wind energy or reforestation, represent one way of managing a carbon footprint.

 

The concept and name of the carbon footprint originates from the ecological footprint discussion. [1] The carbon footprint is a subset of the ecological footprint.

 

Resources & Articles

• Business Management of Carbon Foot Print
• Explore Ways to be Carbon Neutral
• Information on Climate Change
  
  Green Council Member Contribution: Lorinda Hill, SUNY Rockland Community College, lgussow@sunyrockland.edu

The term carbon credit refers to a tool used in a cap & trade system whose sole objective is to mitigate global warming.  These systems operate by quantifying the emissions on an industrial scale and capping total annual emissions alloted. These emissions produced by participants in the system must equal the amount of carbon credits they have been allotted, bought on a open market, or purchased from other participants who have excess carbon credits. 

 

Resources/Articles:

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
  The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the official website of the Kyoto Protocol which has formed the largest legally binding Cap & Trade system in the world
• Eco Business Directory for Buying Carbon Credits

Green Council Member Contribution: Tyler Overk, 845-732-8617, Active International

Information forthcoming.