A Global Carbon Challenge, Solved With Local Solutions

8 January 2021
There is a carbon challenge that faces the world and time is running out. Emissions and climate change is not a new problem we face, but there are evolving technologies to help. If we act locally, together we can change the course of our planet.

There is a carbon challenge that faces the world and time is running out. Emissions and climate change is not a new problem we face, but there are evolving technologies to help. If we act locally, together we can change the course of our planet.

Carbon is the foundation of life. But mankind’s influence is fast-forwarding the environment with the end swiftly approaching. Humanity is the global crisis, and unless we take action now, we are putting our perfect planet at risk.

The carbon challenge is a global issue. However, the solution begins locally with each individual putting in the effort.

What is carbon and what is it good for?

Carbon is a fundamental element to our planet. It makes up sugars, proteins, fats, DNA, muscle tissue, and so on. Life on Earth is based on carbon. The electron configuration of the individual atom is what makes it so special.

From carbon, we get carbon dioxide. Plants need carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and provide oxygen. We use carbon to get energy and fuel across the world. It heats our buildings, turns on the city lights, and is part of our everyday lives in some form.

Climate change and carbon emissions

So what exactly is the carbon challenge? CO2 in the environment is natural. What is not natural is the way humanity has accelerated the use of carbon within the construction, farming, and other industry sectors. Globally, humans bring 100 times more carbon into the world than the total number of volcanoes on the planet. Our energy demand has become one of the deadliest challenges our planet has ever seen.

The increase in carbon dioxide is the greenhouse effect resulting in climate change. CO2 gathers in the atmosphere trapping the sun’s thermal heat close to Earth. This is a natural effect to support the planet, however, the levels are too high and the result is seen in climate change and what we call global warming.

Do you find yourself saying, “I remember winters being colder with more snow…”? Well, this is why. Our planet and oceans are warming. Global weather patterns are changing. This is the carbon challenge. 

What is your carbon footprint?

A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases generated by our individual activities and daily lives. This is also known as pollution and contamination.

Your carbon footprint is made up of the food you purchase, how you heat your home, your mode of transport, new electronics you buy, how much you travel, and more.

What can you do to reduce your carbon footprint?

Are you living a green life? There may be some changes you can make that will help change the course of the world’s carbon challenge.

  1. Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
  2. Buy energy-saving appliances.
  3. Reduce, reuse, recycle.
  4. Walk where you can, drive only when you must.
  5. Read new information and get clued up.

 

What does it mean to be carbon positive?

Carbon positive is the main way we can curb carbon emissions and live life with energy efficiency. Here at Eco, we set ourselves the challenge to go one step further than carbon zero and take on the carbon challenge head on. We became carbon positive in our main plant in Parley, Dorset

Over the last 25 years, our business has prevented 1.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions by diverting organic waste from landfill. The Eco Park is powered by renewable energy from our biomass Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant and is carbon positive – we save more carbon than we use.

Industry and business can achieve this title by making additional “positive” contributions in producing more energy onsite than the building requires, and then feeding the excess back to the grid. The is how we can support human energy demands and still help our natural world.

Sustainability is the key to combatting the global carbon challenge. Finding a way to source energy responsibly and provide local services and waste management is the first step to helping our planet and moving towards becoming carbon positive.

Local Solutions & Targets

Two of the biggest sectors involved in the carbon challenge issue is transportation and electricity production. Making these avenues green will be a huge achievement.

The UK Government has promised to take action with the ambitious new climate target aiming for net-zero carbon emission by 2050. Here at Eco, we are always thinking globally, acting locally. Our Biomass CHP plant has been powered by 100% renewable energy since 2018.

Our Recycling Solutions keep waste management local and cut out unnecessary transportation pollution and continued manufacturing emissions. The main focus is to give a second life to organic materials, putting them back into the ecosystem. Reliable and responsible waste management are what our planet needs.

Through our Energy Solutions, we are looking for sustainability. In 2016 we provided 77MW of solar energy, enough to power 20,000 homes. We are only ever looking for new ways to improve our business, investing in local solutions.

Eco piggy bank against global warming and climate change

Greenhouse properties have kept our planet safe and warm. Carbon should not be a challenge for our natural world. Upset the ecological balance and the world is in trouble.

But we aren’t out of time yet. There is still a chance to make a difference and reach net-zero together. Find your individual sustainability and let’s help the world together.

This is Eco.