9.1.9

Carbon Footprints

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Reducing Carbon Footprints

A carbon footprint is a measure of the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted as a result of a particular service, product or event. The following are ways that we can minimise carbon footprints:

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How can you reduce your carbon footprint?

  • You can reduce your carbon footprint by:
    • Maximise the efficiency of your energy use.
    • Minimise your waste.
    • Using renewable energy sources as an alternative to burning fossil fuels.
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How can governments reduce carbon footprint?

  • Governments can reduce carbon footprints by imposing:
    • Emission-based taxes.
    • Emission caps.
    • Emissions licenses up to a certain cap (these must be bought).
  • These measures would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from companies.
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Carbon capture and storage

  • Carbon capture and storage refers to the capture of carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels before it passes into the atmosphere.
  • Stores of this captured carbon are then kept deep underground.
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Carbon off-setting

  • We can counteract emissions by planting trees, which will remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis.
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Carbon-neutral products

  • Carbon-neutral products don't change the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration.

Jump to other topics

1Atomic Structure

2Chemical Bonding

3Quantitative Chemistry

4Chemical Changes

5Energy Changes

6The Rate & Extent of Chemical Change

7Organic Chemistry

8Chemical Analysis

9Chemistry of the Atmosphere

10Using Resources

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