Climate Change Crash Course

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time. It’s difficult to know where to start on this topic, but this article will provide a basic crash course on what climate change is, how it’s affecting us and what we can do about it.

The first step in understanding climate change is to understand the basics of what it is. Climate change is a gradual increase in global temperatures caused by an increase in greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere. The earth has been warming at an alarming rate over the last century, with 2016 being the hottest year on record so far. The average global temperature has increased by 1 degree Celsius since 1880 and has been increasing at an accelerating rate over the last few decades.

Climate change is a complex issue with many causes. The most common cause of climate change is greenhouse gas emissions, which come from burning fossil fuels and other human activities. Greenhouse gasses trap heat in the atmosphere, which leads to changes in the climate.

Carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that a person, organization, event or product produces. It is measured in metric tons of CO2e or in pounds of CO2 equivalent. The most common way to measure and report carbon footprints is by tracking the amount of GHGs emitted by all activities within an operation - from raw materials acquisition to the manufacturing process, distribution and sale, and disposal of waste products.

Companies are increasingly taking responsibility for the climate change they create. From measuring their emissions to offsetting them, companies are taking measures to reduce their carbon footprint.

The scope of emissions can be classified into three categories:

• Scope 1: Direct emissions from the production and use of fossil fuels, such as coal and natural gas.
• Scope 2: Emissions from electricity generation and heat production, such as coal-fired power plants.
• Scope 3: Other indirect emissions, such as the carbon dioxide released when producing cement.

The scope 1 emissions are those that are emitted directly by the company or individual. The scope 2 emissions are those that result indirectly from a company’s activities. Scope 3 emissions are those that result indirectly from an individual’s activities.

Carbon offsets and carbon removal are two different strategies to combat climate change. Carbon offsets are a way to reduce the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. Carbon removal is a process that removes greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere.

• Carbon offsets: Offset carbon dioxide by investing in projects that reduce emissions, such as renewable energy or reforestation.
• Carbon removal: Capture and store carbon dioxide from power plants, factories, or other industrial sources in underground geologic formations for long-term storage.