Climate change is an important global issue that grows more urgent by the day.
Decades of heavy industry have led to carbon emissions rising to alarming levels, and the impact is becoming evident worldwide.
Extreme weather conditions and rising sea levels are consequences of excess carbon in the atmosphere, and we all have a duty to prevent the situation from worsening.
Key Points:
- Carbon emissions, in most cases, Carbon Dioxide, contribute to a changing climate. Because we have become so used to getting our energy from fossil fuels, carbon emissions have shot up since the early 1900s.
- As carbon traps heat and keeps it within the atmosphere, it is claimed our world is getting hotter. Due to rising temperatures, weather conditions have changed, with floods and wildfires becoming more common.
- There are many ways to reduce your business’s carbon emissions, such as reducing waste, changing machinery and more.
What are carbon emissions?
When carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, it’s measured in terms of carbon emissions.
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change by trapping heat from the sun and warming the Earth.
Where do carbon emissions come from?
According to ClientEarth, burning fossil fuels is the leading source of global CO2 emissions.
Because we have become so used to getting our energy from fossil fuels, carbon emissions have shot up since the early 1900s.
Although they’re projected to remain at their current level for the next 20 years, we must do what we can to minimise our carbon emissions. Pumping more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere could be catastrophic for the world as we know it.
What is the impact of carbon emissions?
Carbon emissions are contributing to climate change, which can have catastrophic consequences for people worldwide.
As carbon traps heat, keeping it within the atmosphere, our world is getting hotter. Due to rising temperatures, weather conditions have changed, with floods and wildfires becoming more common.
Another effect of climate change is rising sea levels, which can drive mass migration on a global scale.
To prevent these devastating events, we need to ensure the Earth doesn’t warm by more than 1.5 degrees.
How can you reduce your carbon emissions and become net zero?
There are a number of ways you can reduce your business’s carbon emissions and aim for net zero.
To start with, you’ll need to get an understanding of your company’s carbon footprint by using a tool like the Carbon Trust’s online calculator.
Once you know how much carbon you’re producing, you can set targets to reduce it. It might be that one area of your business produces more carbon emissions than the others, so you can decide to focus your attention there.
- Making your processes more sustainable can also help. Swapping your equipment for high-quality, efficient machinery can be costly, but in the long term, it can help you reduce your overall carbon emissions.
- You should also assess the amount of waste your business generates and whether any of it can be reused or recycled. Especially if you’re working in a manufacturing environment, there may be instances where you can reuse water or other materials to minimise waste.
- Reviewing your supply chain and identifying greener partners can also help reduce your carbon emissions.
As consumers choose to buy from more ethical and sustainable businesses, it’s essential to ensure you’re covering all bases and doing everything you can to adopt greener processes.
Develop your team’s sustainability skills
Anyone in your team can start building their sustainability skills with our ISEP environmental management courses.
From absolute beginners to practitioners, ISEP qualifications suit everyone. Having ISEP-certified team members will enable you to bring sustainable skills to your business and prepare your company for a greener world.
- ISEP Certificate In Environmental Management
- ISEP Foundation Certificate In Environmental Management
- ISEP Pathways to Net Zero
- ISEP Environmental Sustainability Skill for Managers
- ISEP Environmental Sustainability Skill for the Workforce
- ISEP Certified Internal EMS Auditor
- ISEP Carbon Footprinting and Reporting
If you’re unsure which course is right for you, contact our friendly team at TSW Training.
