ASSIGNMENT 2: CARBON FOOTPRINTS
ELLA ROCHE (28682991)\
What is your personal carbon footprint, and what are the implications of your carbon generating behaviours for meeting future carbon emissions target? How might changes be brought about in individual and societal carbon behaviours and what changes might there be in New Zealand by 2020 and 2050 as a result?
This report outlines the principles behind carbon footprints and their reduction on both a societal, national and global scale. Methods in which carbon emissions can be reduced are explored in the household and commercial sector. Dominating causes of carbon emissions have been discovered as mostly commercial. It has come to attention that dramatic changes predominantly in the farming industry throughout New Zealand via proactive government policies, are required in order to reach national and international climate change goals. Christchurch has been identified as an ideal candidate for an environmental reform which other cities should be urged to mimic.
Introduction:
The purpose of this report is to develop a better understanding and insight into issues surrounding carbon emissions. I will firstly calculate my own carbon footprint from the recent months passed. This will give me an indication of factors that contribute to an individual’s carbon footprint, alongside what my carbon footprint is in comparison to the average New Zealander. I will then look into the implications of such results. Average carbon footprints on a household scale and national scale must be analysed. Methods in which total emissions can be reduced should be considered and therefore it is only logical that subjects such as national and international climate change targets (and the current policies induced at present in an effort to meet these targets) will be looked at in depth. This report is overview of climate change and its implications and the necessary procedures that could be undertaken in order to reduce
Bibliography: * The Guardian Data Blog: Carbon Emissions per Person per Country, retrieved 10 May 2012., from - http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/datablog/2009/sep/02/carbon-emissions-per-person-capita * Ministry for the Environment: Gazetting New Zealand’s 2050 Target – Carbon Change Challeng , retrieved 10 May 2012., from -http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/climate/nz-2050-emissions-target/index.html#reductiontarget, * Christchurch City Council Central City Plan: Draft Central City Recovery Plan for Ministerial Approval, 2011 retrieved 10 May 2012 from -http://www.ccc.govt.nz/homeliving/civildefence/chchearthquake/centralcityplan.aspx * J.C White, (1993), Global Energy Strategies: Living with Restricted Greenhouse Gas Emissions, New York: Plenum Press Word Count: 1754