I really feel the cold but I must say that we’ve had an exceptionally warm autumn this year, including the warmest May on record*! Even though I secretly hope our winter is equally mild, the unseasonably warm temperatures do get me thinking about climate change and whether there’s more we can do at home to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
There are lots of different studies about climate change out there and it’s hard to know what to believe, but research shows that the rate of human carbon output is increasing by 2ppm (parts per million) a year** despite efforts to cap emissions at 1990 levels by the 191 countries that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol against climate change, including New Zealand.#
Persil is helping to lower carbon emissions by removing phosphates from their laundry detergents, which has reduced the greenhouse gas emissions of their products by 32%!
Lately I’ve been trying to reduce the carbon footprint of my household and be kinder to the planet also.
You can do the same by:
What are you doing at home to reduce your household greenhouse gas emissions?
* New Zealand Herald, 10 June 2011
**Otago Daily Times, 10 June 2011
# “Kyoto Protocol: Status of Ratification” (PDF).United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. 14-01-2009