Global Warming 2020

This report, released in December 2005, is a tool for determining the greenhouse gas emission reduction benefits of climate mitigation projects. The report provides specific principles, concepts, and methods for quantifying and reporting GHG reductions – i.e., the decreases in GHG emissions, or increases in removals and/or storage. It was produced using a collaborative process involving businesses, NGOs, governments, academics, and others.

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Review

From the reviews: “The format of the book makes for easy reading and understanding and is excellent for forest management, climate change mitigation, and environmental scientists … . To be precise, Ravindranath, N. H. and Madelene Ostwald’s book is therefore outstanding. In my opinion, their book will soon become a ‘must in the field. The expertise of the authors coupled with an excellent organization and objective presentation of material will certainly make this book a great success among students, teachers, and researchers.” (Current Engineering Practice, 2008)

Carbon inventory requiring estimation of carbon dioxide emissions and removals in land-use categories for national greenhouse gas inventory and changes in stocks of carbon in projects aimed at climate change mitigation has become increasingly important in global efforts to address climate change. Hence, there is a need for a handbook that provides guidelines and methods r (more…)

Review

‘Schreuder authoritatively surveys the political and economic hurdles facing efforts to reduce carbon emissions, establish carbon-trading schemes, and combat slow global warming-with special emphasis on the roles and responsibilities of transnational corporations. I recommend it highly: it is vital, insightful reading for anyone interested in carbon trading, climate mitigation, international relations, and the pervasive role of mega-corporations in our world today.’ – William F. Laurance, Senior Research Scientist, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panama ‘What a timely book. By situating the debate on climate negotiations in the broader context of globalisation, liberalisation and intensified competition, the text highlights the ambiguous roles that corporations are playing in shaping the prospects for and the impacts of climate change agreements. This book highlights how, with the right sort of global deal and appropriate frameworks for global (more…)

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the major greenhouse gas that results from human activities and is responsible for global warming and climate change. The concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere are increasing at an accelerating rate from decade to decade due to the burning of the fossil fuels in our day-to-day life. Each of our everyday actions consumes energy and produces carbon dioxide emissions e.g. taking holiday flights, driving our cars, working with computers, heating or cooling our homes and offices etc.
Fossil fuels like crude oil, coal and natural gas, being made up of hydrocarbons release carbon dioxide when burned. The carbon dioxide which is released to the atmosphere remains there for 100 to 200 years. This leads to an increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, which in turn causes the average temperature on Earth to rise. Studies show that climate change that takes place due to increases in carbon dioxide concentration is largely irreversible for 1,000 years even after emissions stop. That’s why it is absolutely necessary to take steps now in order to save the Green Planet.

In General, Carbon footprint is the term that we use to define our environmental impact in terms of the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) that we release into the atmosphere. We leave our carbon footprints both directly and indirectly, and the total of our environmental impact is the sum of all these contributions. The main contributors to our carbon footprint are: household electricity and heat, transport, food and clothing. All of these can be translated into a number of tonnes of CO2 per annum released into the atmosphere. All the goods that we consume are either transported in freight vehicles, shipped around the world in containers, or both. This also contributes to our carbon footprint.

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