Carbon Footprints
Chemistry: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 9.1.9
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:
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.
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.
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.
Carbon off-setting
- We can counteract emissions by planting trees, which will remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis.
Carbon-neutral products
- Carbon-neutral products don't change the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration.
Test yourself on Carbon Footprints
Carbon footprints can be reduced by...
Which method reduces carbon dioxide that has already entered the atmosphere, rather than preventing new emissions?
How can individuals reduce their carbon footprints?
Governments can reduce carbon footprints by imposing...
A factory captures the carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels and stores it deep underground instead of releasing it. What effect does this have on the amount of carbon dioxide reaching the atmosphere, compared with not capturing it at all?