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International Reducing CO2 Emissions Day

In the last two centuries it is estimated that over 1.5 trillion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) has been released into the Earth’s atmosphere as a direct result of human activity.

Despite global targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 45% by 2030 and to reach net zero by 2050, as called for in the Paris Agreement, we are still pumping out more emissions each year. In 2019, globally we emitted 50% more CO₂ than we did in the year 2000, and in 2022 we emitted 37.15 billion metric tonnes (GtCO₂).

The effects of the climate crisis are all around us, with average global temperatures and more extreme weather events breaking several significant records in 2023. To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C and to limit our rapidly changing climate we need to significantly reduce our collective emissions quickly.

One way of reducing emissions from products at home is to reduce the amount you consume. You should also try to re-use wherever possible and recycle when you no longer need something.

As a sustainable circular economy business Sustainable Tech 4 Good have saved 1,453,702 kgs of CO2 emissions, through the reuse and repurposing of tech devices.

Tips on reducing CO2 emissions at home and at work:

• Control heat and air conditioning. Consider setting your heat a couple of degrees colder in the winter and wear a sweater. And don’t forget an automatic thermostat that shuts off when you are not at home or in the office.
• Change light bulbs. Modern LED bulbs use 80-90% less energy than standard bulbs.
• Consume less. The fewer products you buy, the less impact made on the environment. Consider buying clothing and other household goods at thrift or charity stores to prevent consumer waste.
• Eat vegetarian or vegan. Meat and dairy produce up to 60% of greenhouse gasses from farms. Eating vegetarian or vegan, even just one day per week, helps reduce these emissions.

For more information go to the Energy Savings Trust website. The Energy Savings Trust work with individuals, business, communities and governments to save energy and reduce carbon emissions.

The UN also raises awareness on the 26th January of International Clean Energy Day. Burning fossil fuels (oil, coal, and gas) to produce power and heat is the primary source of a significant portion of the greenhouse gases that cover the Earth and trap solar heat.

History of International Reducing CO2 Emissions Day:

For almost 150 years, scientists have been aware of the need to lower greenhouse gas emissions, also known as CO2. In 1856, American scientist Eunice Newton Foote made the prediction that variations in the gas atmosphere might modify the earth’s surface temperature. Then, in 1896, Swedish physicist Svante Arrhenius predicted global warming in even more quantitative terms, and five years later, Nils Gustaf Ekholm came up with the phrase “greenhouse effect.”.

By 1938, a scientist by the name of Guy Callendar had concluded that climate change and global warming were linked to the rise in CO2 emissions. This was also connected to studies conducted as early as 1824, when Joseph Fourier calculated that a planet the size of Earth should be significantly colder than it was at the time due to its positional relationship to the sun. This suggested that the Earth must have been kept warmer by some kind of “blanket” or insulation.

More evidence of global warming has emerged as researchers continue to examine the effects of the greenhouse effect and ozone layer loss on the planet. This evidence includes intense wildfires, rising sea levels, greater drought, diminishing water resources, and much more.

When the Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997, it was an indication that industrialised nations were making progress in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. However, it hasn’t been sufficient to reduce the rate quickly enough.

Following its adoption in 2015, the Paris Agreement formally committed 196 nations to limiting global warming through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. By the middle of the twenty-first century, the globe is supposed to be climate neutral.

International Reducing CO2 Emissions Day encourages individuals worldwide to reduce their carbon footprint in order to protect the environment and the planet.