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Carbon emissions produced by country.
There’s an amazing virtual map called Breathing Earth that might interest you. I recently came across it in the “London Times Online” as I perused a list of the countries which have cut their carbon footprint during the last two years. Breathing Earth also tells you how much carbon has been emitted worldwide since you entered the website as well as how many people have been born and those that have died in that time. You can see each country’s carbon emissions per person and whether they have increased or decreased in the last two years.
I noticed that most of the countries on the Breathing Earth list appear to be in the southern hemisphere as well as some of the world’s most oil rich nations. Noticeably absent from this list are the world’s largest carbon emitters. Isn’t that interesting? I have followed up this commendable list with a black list of the world’s top 12 carbon emitters.Yes dear readers, our home state California is a world class carbon emitter. However, I don’t quite comprehend how economists can debate the economic feasibility of lowering our carbon footprint when as the following list proves GNP really doesn’t drive the lowering of carbon emissions. So what is the driving factor for these countries that have already made headway in reducing their carbon emissions? That truly is the question and the one that this Green Life examiner is going after.
Of the 10 top energy users, the US is also the world’s largest and will remain so for at least another 15 years. So what we do here in California as well as the rest of the country is of profound importance.
As Kofi Annan, the former UN secretary-general, once said: “We cannot wait for governments to do it all. Globalization operates on internet time. Governments tend to be slow-moving by nature, because they have to build political support for every step.”
So what will rock our carbon emitting lifestyles into carbon reduction mode? There are some really informative internet sites that can help like LiveNeutral.org. Here are some of LiveNeutral’s lifestyle choices that can reduce carbon emissions at the individual level. And before you fall over by internally configuring how many people will have to do each of these actions to make real change evident, remember that each of us must take on the attitude of being the change. That’s how grassroots works and thats something we can do instead of analyzing ourselves into paralysis which is more of a political action anyway, wouldn’t you say?
From LiveNeutral.org:
1. Share.
Didnt your mother always tell you to share? If you only use your tent, ladder, or video player once in a while, consider lending it to others. Some communities have a shared tool shed. Workplaces have book exchanges. Or, you and a friend can team up to buy rarely used items. Sharing decreases the energy and pollution from mining, manufacturing, packaging, and transporting new goods.
2. Get a new A/C filter.
Cleaning or replacing your air conditioner filters increases efficiency and makes it run in peak condition. Filters can be found along the length of the return duct in walls, ceilings, furnaces, or in the air conditioning unit itself. In window units, filters may lie inside of the air conditioner or they may slide out. See this list of helpful tips on buying an efficient air conditioner.
3. Go on a tree spree.
Planting trees removes carbon from the atmosphere, filters air, and prevents soil erosion. Its best to plant trees native to your area that dont require heavy irrigation.
4. Lose the heavy stuff.
Each 100 lbs. in your car increases gas consumption by 1-2%. Another great reason to leave all bricks and rocks at home!
5. Practice gas station etiquette.
Handle the pump with care and avoid topping off. Spilled fuel evaporates and causes air pollution. Also, try to buy gas during cooler times in the day or during evening hours when there is less evaporation.
These are simple, effective actions that start the ball rolling. And you may want to have some of these actions under your belt when you read the following lists.
First we have the Breathing Earth Carbon Reduction Hall of Fame…
Breathing Earth List of Countries that have reduced their Carbon Emissions over the last Two Years
1.Belarus
2.Bolivia
3.Cambodia
4.Central African Republic
5.Chad
6.Colombia
7.Cote D’Ivoire
8.Dominican Republic
9.El Salvador
10.Fiji
11.Ghana
12.Guinnea Bisau
13.Guyana
14.Haiti
15.Jamaica
16.Jordan
17.Kiribati
18.Laos
19.Lebanon
20.Marshall Islands
21.Mauritania
22.Micronesia
23.Morocco
24.Nepal
25.Niger
26.North Korea
27.Norway
28.Panama
29.Papua New Guinea
30.Portugal
31.Saudi Arabia
32.Somalia
33.The Bahamas
34.Trinidad and Tobago
35.Zimbabwe
36.Western Sahara
Next, we have the Carbon Emission Hall of Shame…
The World’s Largest Carbon Emitters as of 2008
1.United States
2.China and Taiwan
3.European Union
4.Russia
5.India
6.Japan
7.Germany
8.Canada
9.United Kingdom
10.South Korea
11.Italy
12.California
We have the President in place now to help get us off the top of this list. Take responsibility as a citizen to do something, anything. Ask not how our country can reduce its carbon emissions. Ask how we as individuals can reduce our carbon emissions.
For more info: http://www.breathingearth.net. www.liveneutral.org.www.carbonfund.org. www.NMA.org.
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