Carbon Emissions – What Are They?

Carbon emissions are the main cause of global warming. They come from burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil, as well as from deforestation. Carbon emissions are harmful because they cause more heat in our atmosphere. This can affect weather patterns around the world.

While carbon emissions can seem like a complicated subject, the good news is that you can take steps to reduce your own carbon footprint. The more people do this, the better it will be for all of us and the sooner we can stop these harmful greenhouse gases from entering our atmosphere.

In this text, you will learn what carbon emissions are and how to calculate them. Find out more about the work that Redda+ does to reduce carbon emissions in Brazil.

Read in this post:

• What are carbon emissions?
• How is it affecting the environment?
• How to calculate carbon emissions
• How to reduce carbon emissions
• Get to know Redda+

What are carbon emissions?

Carbon emissions are the release of carbon into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is one of the most common forms of carbon, and it is a greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, causing global warming.

Carbon is a natural element found in many things we use every day, such as food and water (which are made up of carbon), trees and plants (which contain cellulose), fossil fuels like coal or petroleum (from which we get gasoline for our cars), plastics (like plastic bottles) and concrete (used as a building material).

As a result of human activity, however, carbon is also found in the atmosphere. This can be a problem because too much carbon in the atmosphere traps heat and causes global warming.

How is it affecting the environment?

The environmental impact of carbon emissions is having a profound effect. It is causing climate change, rising sea levels, and the extinction of many species. It is also causing ocean acidification.

Here are some statistics to give you an idea of ​​how much these emissions have increased over time:

• The amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has increased from 280 parts per million (ppm) to 400 ppm over the last 200 years.
• Brazil is the fourth country that most emitted carbon dioxide into the atmosphere since 1850. The statement is from a survey made by the British website Carbon Brief.
• Man’s action on Earth produces 100 times more carbon each year than all the volcanoes on Earth, according to the Deep Carbon Observatory (DA), a team that brings together 500 scientists worldwide.
• A report released by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) states that half of the CO2 emissions between 1750 and 2011 occurred in the last 40 years.
• The average temperature on the planet has increased by about 1.1°C since 1850. This is causing changes in weather patterns and extreme events like heat waves, floods, droughts, and storms.
• Many scientists say that we are close to a tipping point where climate change can no longer be reversed.
• The oceans are also warming and becoming more acidic as they absorb CO2. This is causing coral bleaching events, which can lead to the death of entire coral reefs.

How to calculate carbon emissions

Calculating the amount of carbon you emit during the day – and you emit a lot of carbon, even if you think otherwise – helps you know what to do to contribute to the environment.

There is no need to rack your brains over this calculation. On the internet, you can find several calculators that tell you what your carbon footprint is.

To better understand how to calculate your carbon emissions, access this text and find out which items are questions asked when making the calculation, click here.

How to reduce carbon emissions

Reducing carbon emissions on the planet is to guarantee the future of the human species on Earth and of the other beings that live here. But what can you do to lower the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere? See what actions can be taken:

• Reduce the amount of waste you produce.
• Reuse items that are still usable.
• Recycle what you cannot reuse or reduce.
• Buy green products and services whenever possible, and make sure they are actually better than their conventional counterparts in every way – not just marketing hype!
• Don’t be satisfied with recycling your old electronics – make sure they are repurposed into something useful instead of rotting away in landfills.
• Use public transport as much as possible: by bus, subway or train when you can. Walk or cycle. It’s healthier for you and better for your city’s air quality. And if it saves money on gas costs for a domestic vehicle (and thus reduces emissions), so much the better.

Remember that no action is too small to make a difference. Even if you can’t do everything on this list, choose a way to waste less and become more environmentally friendly.

Find out how REDDA and you can help preserve the Amazon

Redda+ is an organization that uses REDD mechanisms to implement socio-environmental projects in the heart of the Amazon.

Everything is thought to develop socially, environmentally, and economically the entire community that lives in the place and still preserve one of the most important biomes in the world. We take all the basic support for all the people to preserve the Amazon rainforest.

Redda+ is committed to sustainable growth that encompasses the whole, including the forest. By taking care of the forest, showing the whole community its importance, and how to preserve it, we will be able to reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

Taking care of everyone, the original peoples and the forest and their consequent integration, we contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases, reducing the impacts of climate change. Be part of this moment to preserve the Amazon and the world, and learn about Redda+’s projects.