Climate Change

COP26

Between national politics and international pandemics, climate change news has been somewhat sidelined since the COP26 conference last autumn. But for a few days, at least, the gathering in Glasgow generated a number of headlines. Whether it was activists championing more work to tackle climate change, or actions around global goals, there was much to digest.

Some of the news covered the tens of thousands of young people who marched through the streets demanding action on climate change. You could sense their frustration. These are the citizens who will inherit the planet. But decisions are being made by international organisations, many of whom seem out of touch with the issues. Perhaps seeking their own headline-writing announcements, away from scrutiny. Or focussing instead on building short term manifestos to match the election cycle of their own nation.

Carbon Emissions

The Doomsday Clock is stuck at 100 seconds to midnight. Lack of action on tackling climate change is one of the factors keeping us closer to midnight than ever before. The most recent United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) record of national commitments to reduce carbon emissions was published during COP26, in November 2021.

The report states that: “A sizeable increase, of about 13.7 per cent, in global greenhouse emissions in 2030 compared to 2010 is anticipated.”

In order to avoid global heating, and the disastrous consequences, emissions must reduce by 50 per cent by 2030.

Personal Footprint

The average annual carbon footprint is around 4 tons per person (globally). Within this, the average Western footprint per year is 10 tons per person, which accounts for 80 per cent of emissions. Yet it is the poorest communities around the world who are hit hardest by climate change.

Changing weather patterns, and natural disasters lead to communities struggling to feed people, to provide education, and build a sustainable infrastructure. Globally, our footprint needs to reduce to under 2 tons per person to have the best chance of avoiding a devastating 2℃ rise in temperature.

My annual carbon footprint is around 5.3 tons (calculate your own here). My footprint is offset by the fact that I don’t fly. Taking a single 8 hour round trip flight adds 2 tons to an individual’s annual carbon footprint. Being vegan helps too. The average Western carbon footprint from food is 1.7 tons per year. This drops to around 0.9 tons per year for vegetarians. The vegan carbon footprint from food is approximately 0.7 tons per year.

Offsetting

I could do more. Particularly in paying attention to where my food comes from. Choosing as much locally sourced, seasonal, palm oil free food as possible will reduce my footprint. And opting for wooden or bamboo products rather than plastic will also help. My use of technology is high. Whether it’s storing files on the cloud, using multiple devices at once, passive scrolling, or not deleting old photos or messages … I’m guilty, and there’s much room for improvement. I also use technology for work, adding to my already heavy technological carbon footprint. Find out more about technology use (and misuse), in the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) report here.

As well as taking greater responsibility for my personal actions, I began researching carbon offsetting initiatives. Carbon offsetting involves donating to projects that reduce CO2 emissions. It’s a small action, but something I can do today to try to help tomorrow’s communities.

OblongTrees

OblongTrees arose from Oblong (UK) Ltd, a data company set up in 2006. A few years ago, the Managing Director, Dan Whiteman, decided to try to offset the company’s carbon footprint. Having considered a range of options, he narrowed his choices to two: pay someone to plant trees for Oblong (UK) Ltd, or buy carbon credits.

Looking further into the details, it appeared that some companies would plant trees, and later sell carbon credits from these trees to others. So the planting company profited twice; once when an organisation paid for trees to be planted to offset their own footprint, and again when they sold carbon credits from the trees, claiming the carbon offset was not allocated elsewhere.

This double counting didn’t sit well with Dan. He searched to find tree planters who do not sell carbon credits, and Oblong (UK) Ltd began to pay the planters to plant trees for them. At this point, clients of Oblong (UK) Ltd became interested in doing something similar. And OblongTrees was born.

The Committee on Climate Change estimates that the UK needs to plant 1.5 billion trees to become carbon neutral. If every company joined OblongTree’s standard planting scheme, then over 10 years approximately 7 billion trees would be planted.

Planting Trees

Planters for OblongTrees are based around the world. In the UK, either land owners plant the trees and OblongTrees pay them, or OblongTrees do it themselves. Either way, the trees are maintained until established, with an aim of 85% survival. Trees are replanted where possible if they are lost.

Internationally, carefully selected planting organisations are commissioned to plant trees. These organisations often have environmental goals which tree planting benefits, such as establishing a better environment for wildlife, which complement the drive towards offsetting carbon emissions.

An individual’s carbon offset plan costs around £120 (including VAT). For this (lifetime) investment, OblongTrees could plant:

That’s a small individual contribution to the 1.5 billion planting target. But every person who takes action becomes part of the greater whole. We can all do something right now towards preserving our beautiful planet and those who call her their home.

Sobering Facts

Within the next twenty years, global temperatures are likely to rise by at least 1.5℃. The last seven years have been the warmest on record. More than one million species are at risk of extinction because of climate change, including almost half of all amphibians. According to the UN Environment Programme, the current daily rate of extinction is around 1,000 times more than the natural rate. That’s about 200 entire species of plants, insects, birds, and mammals every day.

Projections based on promises made by countries at COP26, suggest the temperature rise will be capped at around 1.8℃, if the promises are delivered. If not, forecasts based on current commitments suggest we are on track for a 2.7℃ rise.

This Guardian article from October 2021 talks through various scenarios based on different temperature rises. For example, a 1.5℃ rise would kill off some 70-90% of the world’s coral reefs. At 2℃, the reefs would be virtually wiped out, with 99% disappearing.

I can’t tackle climate change on my own, and I am frightened for the future of our planet. The least I can do is to take greater responsibility for my individual actions, and try to offset some of my carbon usage. Then hope that the cumulative impact of individual actions will contribute to a more manageable world which our children will inherit. These are the people who will feel impacts of behaviour and choices during our lifetime.