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What are carbon emissions?
Carbon dioxide, in particular, is a problem: more carbon dioxide is released by human activity than any other greenhouse gas emissions, and it has the most significant environmental impact.Since carbon dioxide is the most common and damaging greenhouse gas, GHG emissions are often referred to collectively as carbon emissions. However, it’s more accurate to refer to the “Carbon dioxide equivalent” (CO2e)—the amount of CO2 which would have the equivalent global warming potential—to describe different greenhouse gases in a common unit.More specifically:
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Greenhouse gas
Global warming potential
1 kg Carbon dioxide (CO2)
1 Kg CO2e
1kg Methane (CH4)
~12 Kg CO2e
1 kg Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
~ 114 Kg CO2e
Reducing global GHG emissions
Global warming can’t be stopped entirely, but experts believe it can be significantly slowed with the right interventions. The goal prescribed in the Paris Agreement is to limit the rise in average global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celcius from where they are today. This goal can only be achieved by limiting the amount of CO2 emitted into the environment.The European Union and the United States have committed to reaching net-zero carbon dioxide emissions, or carbon neutrality, by 2050. Net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 require massive investments a significant change in consumer and corporate behavior - no less than 1.4 billion tonnes of carbon emissions need to be cut every year from now until 2050. The US and the EU have set interim goals like reducing emissions by at least 55% by 2030. 2030 is just around the corner—now is the time to make major changes.
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What is the global carbon budget?
The maximum amount of cumulative net global anthropogenic carbon dioxide (C02e) emissions that would result in limiting global warming to a given level with a given probability, taking into account the effect of other anthropogenic climate forces.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
How can businesses tilt the global carbon budget to a more positive bottom line?
Meeting carbon budget goals requires a two-pronged approach:
- Minimizing emissions and
- Carbon removals
Actions to minimize carbon emissions include:
- Adopting renewable energy sources, such as solar energy or wind power. Many businesses equip their roofs with solar panels or utilize power from wind farms.
- Recycling - to reduce the number of raw materials created from scratch.
- Work with sustainability-minded vendors and suppliers.
- Swap gas-fueled cars for electric cars.
- Offsetting carbon emissions - balance your overall GHG emissions by paying others to offset your carbon emissions or with projects combatting deforestation. Many such projects take place worldwide, including in some developing countries.
- Make smart decisions using data - improve efficiencies and drive down emissions by leveraging data analysis and tech knowledge through tools like GreenPerk API. This will help your business understand its own practices and where it can afford to emit less. That will give you actionable insights and help you reach your net zero-emission targets.
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