Global carbon dioxide emissions caused by human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels, must be drastically reduced, and fast. The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned that countries need to be net zero (also known as carbon neutral) by 2050 in order to have any chance of limiting global warming to 1.5C. Beyond that, the planet will most likely pass irreversible and catastrophic tipping points. To do this, we must decarbonise. But how? What changes do we need to make as individuals and as a society, and how will this process impact our lives? Here are five things you need to know …
Measurement is key
In order to reduce something, we first need to measure it. On an individual level, we can estimate our own carbon footprints (ie the environmental impact of our activities and lifestyle) by using a carbon calculator such as the WWF’s carbon footprint calculator. Meanwhile, having a smart meter installed in your home is a tangible way to quantify your energy use and can help you to do your bit to reduce your carbon footprint.
Seeing what energy you’re using can help you to be more energy efficient and speed up the process of decarbonising and upgrading our energy system. Renewable energies such as solar, wind and wave power are vital to our greener future, but we’ll need to be able to store this energy for when the turbines aren’t turning or the sun isn’t shining. For this to work, we need a more intelligent, flexible grid – which is where smart meters come in, as they’ll provide the grid with the data it needs to enable supply to be more finely tuned to demand.
Carbon offsetting isn’t the answer
To achieve net zero, we need to substantially cut carbon emissions – not just buy carbon credits that shunt the problem elsewhere. Carbon offsetting schemes are controversial, and really should be a last resort rather than a green light to continue emitting greenhouse gases. Why? Well not only do trees take decades to mature, but planting huge monocultures of seedlings in far-flung places uses a lot of land and can’t support as much wildlife as diverse, established forests. What’s more, plankton in the ocean produce half the oxygen we breathe, converting carbon dioxide in the process. Seaweed, eelgrass beds and the deep seabed store carbon, too. So protecting existing ancient woodland, peat bogs and ocean habitats will help keep our planet healthy by storing or “sequestering” carbon. Basically, we need to protect our wildlife, stay responsible for our own carbon footprints and make no excuses.
Carbon capture and storage could be part of the solution
Carbon capture and storage (CSS) works by taking carbon dioxide from industrial facilities where concentrations are high and solidifying it into rock that can be stored underground. Although controversial, schemes such as the one being trialled at the Drax power station in North Yorkshire – where the aim is to capture one tonne of CO2 from its wood combustion every day – could help prevent the release of large quantities of CO2 into the atmosphere. Although CSS is a pretty exciting innovation, it’s far from the complete solution, but possibly a piece of the decarbonisation puzzle.
Some things are easier to decarbonise than others
First, the good news. Enormous progress is being made in clean energy, and the way we heat our homes is transforming for the better. In fact, last year renewables were the UK’s main source of energy for the first time. But some sectors are seriously lagging behind. Aviation, shipping and industrial processing (think chemicals, steel and cement) are tricky to decarbonise due to their sheer scale and complexity, and the fact they’re all growing sectors. By 2050, carbon emissions could increase by as much as 250% for shipping and triple for aviation. But it’s not all bad news. If you’re alarmed by these statistics, you can help drive positive change by consciously lowering your consumption and thinking twice before taking flights.
We all need to be conscious of supply chains
When we’re out shopping, the last thing that most of us are thinking about is supply chains, but this needs to change if we’re serious about cutting our carbon emissions. A supply chain is the process a product goes through before reaching the consumer – and from smartphones to strawberries, everything we buy has one.
As consumers, it can be hard to know what the supply chains are for the products we buy, but as a rule the more manufactured the product, the more likely it is to have a convoluted or inefficient supply chain, resulting in a higher carbon cost.
If you want to make a meaningful impact, actively trying to decarbonise your diet is a great place to start. While it’s actually less energy-intensive to grow tomatoes in sunny Spain than in a polytunnel in Britain, air-freighting them to the UK cancels out the carbon saving. So next time you’re doing a food shop, take time to read the labels and prioritise locally-grown, seasonal produce.
Join the energy revolution and contact your energy supplier to request a smart meter. For more information visit smartenergygb.org
This article was paid for by Smart Energy GB – the not-for-profit, government-backed campaign helping everyone in Britain to understand the importance of smart meters and their benefits to people and the environment.
