- The amount of CO2 quoted can vary because the calculation may be complex. For example, on a flight the CO2 emissions apportioned to you will depend on the type of aircraft, number of passengers, distance flown, air temperature, wind, fuel load etc. In practice each calculator chooses a set of sensible assumptions (which it should explain).
- The price of offsetting a tonne of CO2 varies because the costs depend on the location and type of project.
The aviation industry emits 460m tonnes of CO2 in a year
The aviation industry emits 460m tonnes of CO2 in a year
2005 was the warmest year since records began, and all five of the hottest-ever years have occurred since 1997
Frequently asked questions
Climate change
What is climate change?
Who will be most affected by climate change?
How bad is climate change?
What is the Kyoto Protocol?
Why does the US government say climate change isn’t happening?
Is carbon dioxide the main problem?
Can we stop climate change?
Is global dimming the answer to global warming?
What are the impacts of climate change?
What are greenhouse gases?
Who emits most carbon dioxide?
Travel
Why should we be so concerned about air travel?
I only fly short-haul journeys: do I need to worry about emissions?
Carbon calculator
Why do some carbon calculators give different answers?
Why do the car and plane CO2 emissions per passenger mile show similar results?
Why don’t you provide more detail in your calculations?
Offsetting
If I offset my CO2 emissions, do I need to reduce them?
If reduction is so important, why bother with offsetting?
Which is better, tree-planting or energy projects?
When trees die, what happens to the carbon stored in them?
What about reports recently that trees emit methane, which is more damaging to the environment than CO2?
Is tree-planting going to solve the problem of climate change?
Some environmentalists are critical of offsetting. Why does Climate Stewards still support offsetting projects?
So where does my money go?
How much should I give?
Why is Climate Stewards offsetting projects located in developing countries?
Is it realistic to keep planting more forests in the face of pressure on the land?
How do I know that offsetting projects are as good as they claim?
Trees don’t last for ever. Why do you use tree-planting projects for offsetting?
Climate change seems an insurmountable problem. Is my personal energy saving and offsetting really going to make any difference?
Christians and climate change
Why does God allow climate change?
Why should Christians care about climate change?
Why are Christians doing this?
Why should Christians be using this?
Is there something I can put in a parish magazine?
Climate change
What is climate change?
The temperature of the world is rising. Fluctuations in temperature over time are normal, but the current changes are unprecedented and threatening.
Naturally occurring gases (such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane) in the atmosphere form a ‘blanket’ round the earth, trapping the heat from the sun. Since the Industrial Revolution, our burning of fossil fuels has increased levels of these greenhouses gases in the atmosphere, trapping more heat.
Climate change can bring both unstable, extreme weather patterns and long-term trends of changing rainfall and temperatures to which all life will need to adapt. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts greater climate changes are yet to come.
Who will be most affected by climate change?
Industrialized countries are the biggest contributors to climate change. Yet it is the poorest people in developing regions such as Africa and South Asia that are most threatened by climate change.
Extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and severity. This may devastate already fragile resources such as clean water, fisheries and forests, and damage agriculture, infrastructure, property and health. Climate change can be catastrophic for people who are dependent on rain-fed agriculture and have no surplus resources or coping mechanisms for the resulting loss of livelihood.
Industrialized countries have a responsibility to dramatically reduce their own emissions while helping developing countries to adapt to climate change.
Read more
Department for International Development
Royal Society
How bad is climate change?
‘Climate change is the most severe problem that we are facing today, more serious even than the threat of terrorism.’
David King, UK government chief scientific advisor, January 2004.
2005 was the warmest year since records began, and all five of the hottest-ever years have occurred since 1997. It is expected that temperatures will continue to rise – by between 2°C and 6°C [?by the end of this century], representing a far greater change than has happened for at least 10,000 years. It is the speed of change that is concerning scientists – giving little chance for people and ecosystems to adapt.
What is the Kyoto Protocol?
The Kyoto Protocol is an internationally binding agreement setting targets for industrialized countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.
The protocol was agreed in 1997, and in 2005 it became a legally binding treaty between 38 countries, with the notable exception of the USA and Australia.
Why does the US government say climate change isn’t happening?
President Bush has acknowledged that the earth has warmed and continues to do so, and agrees that climate change ‘is an issue that must be addressed by the world’. In 2001 he said the Kyoto Protocol was fatally flawed in ‘fundamental ways’.
He refused to sign the Protocol, claiming it would damage the US economy, and because it did not require the big emitters among the developing countries (specifically China and India) to sign.
Is carbon dioxide the main problem?
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most important greenhouse gas which is increasing in concentration because of human activities. CO2 has contributed about 70% of the enhanced greenhouse effect to date, methane about 24% and nitrous oxide about 6% (Houghton, 2004).
Unlike the other greenhouse gases, which may be destroyed by chemical action, CO2 is not destroyed, but redistributed within the carbon cycle. Since the Industrial Revolution and the burning of fossil fuels, CO2 has increased in the atmosphere by about 30%, trapping more heat.
Can we stop climate change?
Today’s climate is influenced by the CO2 emissions of the last century. The climate responds slowly to change. It is a bit like turning a supertanker round. Unless firm action is taken now, scientists believe CO2 levels in the atmosphere will continue to rise. Climate change in 40-50 years’ time will be determined by our current emissions.
Is global dimming the answer to global warming?
Records over the last 50 years show the average amount of sunlight reaching the ground has steadily decreased. This is because tiny particles of pollution in the high atmosphere encourage cloud formation, which reflects some light back into space. This is called global dimming. It does tend to reduce global warming, but it also causes significant damage to the climate in its own right. So we should not rely on it.
What are the impacts of climate change?
The average rise of 0.6°C in global temperature changes over the last century doesn’t sound much, but it is already responsible for rising sea levels, melting ice, heatwaves, extreme weather patterns, floods and droughts. These have devastating consequences for people and ecosystems.
What are greenhouse gases?
The main greenhouse gases are water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. They are called greenhouse gases because their role in the atmosphere is like the glass of a greenhouse (or a blanket), trapping heat.
Without this protection the earth would be too cold for life. The concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is changing because of human activities.
Who emits most carbon dioxide?
All countries emit some CO2, with the USA and Europe producing the most. China’s economy is rapidly expanding, with huge increases in oil consumption and coal production.
Read more: National Energy Foundation
(Source: www.nef.org.uk)
Where can I find more information about climate science?
Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research
Climatic Research Unit
Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Travel
Why should we be so concerned about air travel?
This is the fastest growing emissions sector, as more and more people (and freight) travel by plane. Although mile for mile per person planes emit no more CO2 than cars, at high altitude the damage caused by emissions is greater because this is the most vulnerable part of the atmosphere.
I only fly short-haul journeys: do I need to worry about emissions?
Yes! Taking off uses more fuel per minute than cruising, so short flights are also damaging.
Carbon calculator
Why do some carbon calculators give different answers?
Why do the car and plane CO2 emissions per passenger mile show similar results?
A full jumbo jet on a long-haul flight uses about the same amount of fuel as if each of the passengers drove their own vehicles the same distance overland. So the amount of CO2 per person per mile works out about the same. But the plane is worse because it also gives out water vapour, nitrous oxide and particulates at high altitude.
Why don’t you provide more detail in your calculations?
Climate Stewards aims to provide a service that is both informative and user-friendly. The scheme is most likely to work if it is clear and easy to navigate. For this reason calculations are based on average figures and mileages.
Offsetting
If I offset my CO2 emissions, do I need to reduce them?
Certainly. Offsetting projects can really help to slow down and reduce the impact of climate change, but most scientists agree that significant worldwide CO2 reductions are vital to keep climate change within manageable limits.
If reduction is so important, why bother with offsetting?
Reducing CO2 emissions is slow, but you can offset immediately. Voluntary offsetting slows down climate change and reduces the impact on the poor, who are most at risk. Offsetting reminds us that climate change is our responsibility and creates a self-imposed incentive to reduce our emissions. Offsetting demonstrates to politicians that we are serious about wanting action on climate change.
Which is better, tree-planting or energy projects?
Both have their place. Trees capture CO2 from the air as they grow. The latest scientific evidence suggests that ‘tropical forests present a win-win because they cool the planet by evaporative cooling and the uptake of carbon’. For details, click here
Well-managed tree-planting provides employment, sustainable fuel, food, and habitat for wildlife. It can also help to improve the land. Projects which produce renewable energy or promote energy efficiency reduce CO2 emissions in the first place.
When trees die, what happens to the carbon stored in them?
About half the weight of a tree is carbon. When trees die and decompose, the carbon they absorbed while they were growing is gradually released into new growth, soil and air. By planting lasting forests we are ensuring the carbon is locked up for generations in the trees and wood that is harvested.
What about reports recently that trees emit methane, which is more damaging to the environment than CO2?
Methane is an extremely damaging greenhouse gas which is about 20 times more destructive than CO2. Until recently it had been thought that plants could not give off methane, but research at the Max Planck Institute has demonstrated that under carefully controlled laboratory conditions some plants can. Further work will be required before we can know what effect it has on our calculations. Read more: Forestry Commission.
Is tree-planting going to solve the problem of climate change?
Not on its own. However, it is something positive we can do right now without having to wait for the research and development of new technologies. We believe tree-planting will be a useful and significant part of the solution over approximately the next 50 years when carefully managed with additional social and biodiversity benefits.
Some environmentalists are critical of offsetting. Why does Climate Stewards still support offsetting projects?
Some people are so enthusiastic about reducing CO2 emissions that they think any other response is an excuse for doing nothing. By contrast Climate Stewards believes that offsetting can demonstrate real concern about climate change and reduce its impact on millions of vulnerable people. It’s also a practical way of getting people started on planning to reduce their CO2 emissions.
So where does my money go?
We aim to give 80% of all we receive to the actual tree-planting projects. Of the remaining 20%, half pays for the costs of running Climate Stewards and the other half goes to A Rocha as our contribution to the overheads of running the international organization.
We will not achieve this target straight away because of the costs of setting up the projects, but we will update you on our progress. If you Gift Aid your contribution, the tax we can reclaim from the government covers our overheads and all your money goes directly to the projects.
How much should I give?
The most important thing is that we all reduce our energy use as much as possible. The calculations are for your guidance: what you are able to give is a decision only you can take, but if you aim to be carbon neutral you should give the full amount calculated or reduce the travel you do by car or plane.
Why is Climate Stewards offsetting projects located in developing countries?
There are several reasons:
- The latest scientific evidence suggests that tropical forests are best for preventing climate change because they cool the planet both by evaporative cooling and the uptake of carbon. For details, click here
- Offsetting projects reduce poverty, so it makes sense to locate them where poverty is a major problem.
- Putting our projects in developing countries means they don’t count towards the CO2 target of any Kyoto signatory country. All the developed countries still have to take action to meet their own obligations.
- Costs are low in developing countries, so our limited funds can have the maximum impact.
Is it realistic to keep planting more forests in the face of pressure on the land?
In many places where farmers are destroying forest in order to grow crops and graze animals the farms are not actually sustainable. Poor tropical soils quickly become impoverished and eventually are washed away. Forest is often the only form of cover which lasts and retains the soil. It is important that we find ways for people to utilize the forests to support their livelihoods without destroying the trees.
How do I know that offsetting projects are as good as they claim?
Climate Stewards projects are independently monitored to ensure they meet the international standards of the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance. That means that Climate Stewards projects have to be good for the climate and also for the local people and wildlife.
Trees don’t last for ever. Why do you use tree-planting projects for offsetting?
- Climate Stewards aims to offer offsetting projects featuring renewable energy, energy efficiency and tree-planting. We still include tree-planting because it is an affordable way of sucking CO2 out of the air and locking it up for some time. Tree-planting also has particular benefits for local people and wildlife. Plus it is effective at engaging people who are new to the climate change debate. True, there are risks such as fire and decay, but that means we should plant more trees to take account of such losses.
- Significant reduction in CO2 emissions is our goal. But that too carries the risks of economic chaos, hunger, conflict, mass migration, police states… Our response has to be to proceed with care, reducing the risks in any way we can.
Climate change seems an insurmountable problem. Is my personal energy saving and offsetting really going to make any difference?
It is both a personal and a global issue. It is up to us all to take individual action and support local, national and international action. Climate change has been caused by lots of people doing small things: the solution will be the same.
‘Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.’
Edmund Burke (1729-1797), English parliamentarian, philosopher and ethicist
Christians and climate change
Why does God allow climate change?
God created a perfect world in which humans were given freedom of choice. This freedom and moral decision-making are fundamental to human nature. We (the human population) have for many years made bad environmental decisions associated with thoughtlessness, greed and selfishness, and nature is paying the price. Now we need to use the same freedom to make good decisions over climate change.
Why should Christians care about climate change?
A fundamental part of being a Christian is the responsibility towards God’s gift of creation for this and future generations. Caring for the whole environment includes addressing the accompanying issues of poverty, justice and equity. This is an opportunity for Christians to demonstrate a practical outworking of God’s love for all creation.
Why are Christians doing this?
Christians believe that ‘the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it’ (Psalm 24:1). This means that everything ultimately belongs to God. Christians also believe that God has entrusted the responsible care (stewardship) of the earth and its resources to humanity, and we must answer to God for how we treat the planet. The purpose of the earth (creation) is not to suit us or to fuel our ambitions, but to bring glory to God.
Why should Christians be using this?
We recognize and regret that Christians have often failed to be good stewards of the earth, and have sometimes justified its exploitation and abuse. As the damage caused by our over-consumption of fossil fuels becomes ever more obvious, we are committed to reducing our impact, both by lessening our use of fossil fuels (e.g. by cutting unnecessary journeys) and by compensating for the pollution we emit, through the Climate Stewards scheme.
Is there something I can put in a parish magazine?
Yes, you can download an article for your parish magazine. Click here