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RO CO₂, also known as carbon dioxide, is a gas. It is invisible and odorless; it is also an important part of the atmosphere. The atmosphere is a layer about 100 kilometers thick that surrounds our planet and keeps it warm. Without CO₂ the earth would be ice cold; neither man nor beast could survive. This is the good side of CO₂. But the problem is that more and more people are producing more and more CO₂. Because CO₂ is produced when heating oil, coal, gas, petrol or wood is burned. The resulting thicker layer around the world prevents only part of the sun’s heat from escaping back into the atmosphere: So CO₂ amplifies the natural greenhouse effect and thereby changes the climate: an imbalance arises caused by humans. Become a part of the worldwide KLIMATES community today and personally offset your CO₂.
In addition to carbon dioxide (CO₂), there are other greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide. The various gases do not all contribute equally to the greenhouse effect. For example, they stay in the atmosphere for different lengths of time.
In order to be able to compare the different gases and their effects on climate change, scientists have defined what they call the “Global Warming Potential”. These parameters define the effect of a certain amount of a greenhouse gas over a defined period of time (usually 100 years) compared to CO₂. For example, methane is 28 times more harmful than CO₂, but stays in the atmosphere for less time. With laughing gas, the effect is even 300 times more harmful than CO₂. Both gases come primarily from agriculture through the use of nitrogen fertilizers and livestock. By converting them in comparison to CO₂, they are known as CO₂ equivalents, also referred to with the abbreviation “CO₂e”.
A liter of CO₂ actually weighs 1.96 grams. Accordingly, one kilogram of CO₂ results in a volume of 509 liters. If we imagine this in a balloon (approx. 2.5 liter capacity), one kilogram of CO₂ results in approx. 204 balloons. The following comparison is impressive: An average European produces 30 kilograms of CO₂ per day. You could fill more than 6,000 balloons with that. Imagine how many balloons you could fill with the approx. 12 tons of CO₂ that each CLIMATE compensates at least per year. All KLIMATES worldwide contribute to the compensation and reduction of these tonnages of climate-damaging gases.
You can often find different numbers on the Internet. This has to do with the fact that the pure CO₂ share is given for some information. However, the so-called CO₂ equivalents CO₂e and the consumption-related values are relevant for the CO₂ footprint. The EU average is 7.17 tons (source: Global Change Data Lab, Status 2020)
Some countries for comparison:
Germany = 9.23 tons of CO₂e/pa
Austria = 9.11 tons of CO₂e/pa
Switzerland = 12.35 tons of CO₂e/pa
Italy = 6.53 tons CO₂e/pa
In comparison: in the USA 15.47 tons of CO₂e are emitted per capita and year. And China, for comparison, emits around 7.04 tons of CO₂e per inhabitant.
However, it is important to note that the western world has the largest footprint; This is because CO₂e emissions have been caused in the West for decades, when emerging countries such as China and India were only at the beginning of their industrialization.
The ecological footprint is something like “resource accounting”. Footprint information is also calculated for the provision of products and services, among other things. One kilogram of beef leaves a footprint of around 70 kilograms of CO₂e, from the farmer to the consumer. A flight of one person from Frankfurt to New York and back produces approx. 2.7 tons of CO₂e.
However, the term ecological footprint also includes all emissions that individuals and all of humanity have left behind. It follows that most of the current imbalance has been caused by the consumer behavior of the industrialized countries. Emerging countries in Africa, Asia and South America are only a small part of the current imbalance.
If we start again from the average European, the footprint is made up as follows:
- Diet makes up about 35%
- Housing/energy is around a quarter (25%)
- 23% of CO₂e emissions come from the mobility sector
- 9% are so-called public emissions (e.g. infrastructure of hospitals, administration, road/rail maintenance, etc.)
- 8% are from other areas of everyday life such as garbage, etc.
Not only the emissions we produce are important, but everything that we have contributed to climate change since birth: Holiday trips by plane, that chic sports convertible when you were young, the family-friendly SUV later, the delicious beef fillets from Argentina, all the glossy color catalogs that ended up in the garbage unread and and and; in other words, all the consumer goods that we have (without hesitation) bought, used and thrown away up until now.
Depending on the product, the calculation of emissions is made up of the CO₂ emissions from suppliers, on-site production, transport, storage, sales/distribution and disposal. Everyone understands that products that come together as a whole or even individual components from all over the world cause more CO₂ than a kilo of organic carrots that you buy directly from the farmer or at the weekly market. Becoming aware of such supply chains and adapting your consumption behavior accordingly can already reduce a good part of your own footprint.
First, one should avoid CO₂ emissions as much as possible; What cannot be avoided should be reduced as much as possible. And what is left over can be compensated by supporting reforestation projects, such as KLIMATES does. Every tree, every hemp plant that is planted with your contribution offsets part of the CO₂ in the atmosphere.
Companies also offset their CO₂ emissions; In the meantime, more and more providers are boasting they are so-called “CO₂-neutral”. It should be noted that this is not a protected seal of quality. Therefore, every consumer should make sure that their CO₂ footprint is as small as possible and have the rest of their emissions compensated by a trustworthy provider such as KLIMATES.
In the course of a lifetime, a person produces quite a bit of CO₂ emissions, depending on their lifestyle. In the western industrialized countries in particular, consumer behavior over the last 100 years has caused overexploitation of resources and therefore enormous CO₂ emissions. It is therefore not only important to prevent or reduce CO₂ emissions, but at least to offset the current CO₂ footprint of each individual. And those who are really serious about climate protection also offset the imprint that they have left in the past. With KLIMATES you can therefore offset not only your current but also your past footprint depending on the tariff.
Every individual should save as much CO₂ emissions as possible with their consumer behavior. The common climate goal is net zero (NET-ZERO). Nevertheless, every person produces CO₂, even with particularly environmentally friendly behavior: Consumption and/or use of food, clothing, means of transport, housing, services such as insurance, banks, etc. generates CO₂ that cannot be avoided or/and reduced. And again, it should be pointed out that we have all already left a large CO₂ footprint in our lives so far; this was not or only partially offset until you took the step to become part of the KLIMATES community.
The offsetting takes place by planting organic material that permanently binds CO₂. With reforestation projects for CO₂ offsetting, however, you have to take a close look: It is important that the plants are not used later by deforestation or incineration. At KLIMATES, we therefore ensure that the bound CO₂ is not released again later, or this is a requirement of our projects.
At KLIMATES, your footprint is neutralized through hemp cultivation; if there is not enough space for hemp cultivation or not enough hemp projects, we fall back on qualified tree reforestation projects. Unknown to many: Hemp binds 2.5 times more CO₂ than trees! Hemp grows fast, everywhere and is extremely robust.
Atmosphere
Atmosphere refers to the layer of gases and particles that surrounds the earth and enables life on earth. It consists primarily of nitrogen, oxygen, and argon, and smaller amounts of carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases. The atmosphere absorbs heat from the sun and regulates the temperature on Earth. Recently, however, man-made climate change has led to an increase in the concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere, leading to global warming and drastic environmental changes.
CO₂ equivalents
CO₂ equivalents, also referred to as CO₂e, is a measure of the amount of greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere. These gases are responsible for global warming and include not only carbon dioxide (CO₂), but also methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). CO₂ equivalents are used to measure and compare the impact of different greenhouse gases. CO₂ equivalents are an important factor in monitoring and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change.
CO₂ calculator (calculator)
A CO₂ calculator is used to calculate the amount of CO₂ emissions caused by various activities and processes. It makes it possible to calculate energy consumption, transport, food, housing and other emissions. The basic data of the CO₂ calculator comes from various sources, such as governments, companies and non-profit organizations. it is a useful tool for calculating emissions from individuals, companies and countries, as well as for evaluating and planning the effectiveness of emission reduction measures.
Decarbonization
Decarbonization refers to the process of reducing or eliminating greenhouse gas emissions, specifically by using renewable energy instead of fossil fuels. This requires both policy action and investment in technology and infrastructure to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. It is one of the most important challenges for the global community to be able to achieve the climate goals.
Emissions
Emissions refer to the release of pollutants or greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. They can come from industrial processes, power plants, transportation, and other man-made sources. Emissions are an important factor in climate change and can have negative impacts on the environment as well as on human and animal health.
Emissions trading
Emissions trading, also known as cap and trade, is a market mechanism used to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. It sets a cap on the total emissions of a given industry or country and allows those that stay below their limit to sell or buy excess carbon credits. Companies that can reduce their emissions can make money by selling excess carbon credits, while companies that are having a harder time reducing their emissions can buy carbon credits to meet their emissions. This mechanism is intended to create incentives to reduce emissions. Emissions trading has proven to be an effective tool to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases while promoting economic growth.
Energy efficiency
Energy efficiency refers to the use of technologies and practices that make it possible to achieve the same amount of energy output using less energy. It is an important approach to reduce energy costs and environmental impact by reducing energy consumption.
Gray energy
Gray energy includes energy required for the extraction, processing, transport and disposal of raw materials, as well as for the manufacture, delivery and disposal of products. Gray energy is an important factor in determining the environmental impact of products and can help improve the sustainability of production and consumption by reducing energy consumption and improving energy efficiency.
Greenwashing
Greenwashing refers to processes in which companies present their products as more environmentally friendly than they actually are. It uses environmental terms or symbols that are not generally defined. Among other things, greenwashing is when companies describe their products and services as “CO₂ neutral,” but the consumer is not transparently informed about which emissions are offset and how; mail-order companies and the aviation industry, among others, uses such labelling.
Climate conferences
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have been held regularly since 1992. Here are some of the major conferences and their outcomes:
1979: First world climate conference in Geneva, Switzerland and signing of the UN environmental protection act.
1992: Climate Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The participants signed the UNFCCC, which provides the framework for international efforts to combat climate change.
1997: Kyoto Conference, Japan. The participants agreed on a protocol that stipulated for the first time that developed countries must reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
2005: Montreal Conference, Canada. The Kyoto Protocol was extended and it was decided that emissions must be reduced by at least 5% below 1990 levels by 2020.
2009: Copenhagen Conference, Denmark. Although no binding targets were agreed, the participants agreed to start negotiations on a new agreement to mitigate climate change.
2015: Paris Conference, France. The participants agreed in the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to “well below 2 degrees Celsius” and make efforts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees.
2019: Madrid Conference, Spain. The participants discussed the implementation of the Paris Agreement and efforts to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a greenhouse gas that occurs naturally in the atmosphere and is essential for the growth of plants and trees. However, it also contributes to global warming as it interferes with the earth’s ability to radiate heat. The main driver of the increase in CO₂ in the atmosphere is the man-made use of fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas and the simultaneous reduction of natural areas (forest clearing, urban development, etc.). Carbon dioxide is fundamentally a good thing and makes life on earth possible. However, due to human influence, the usual balance no longer prevails.
Methane (CH4)
Methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas that occurs naturally in the atmosphere and is mainly produced by biological processes such as the decomposition of plant matter and the activity of animals and microorganisms. However, it also has a significant human-made source, particularly through the use of natural gas and oil, land-use change, and the use of animals for livestock.
Net Zero
The net-zero target means that emissions of greenhouse gases must be reduced to zero or offset through the use of technologies to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. It means that total greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced to zero by the end of the century in order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius or less and minimize the impact of climate change.
This target requires reducing emissions of greenhouse gases as quickly as possible and increasing the use of technologies to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Compensation through afforestation also contributes to the net-zero target. It also requires a transformation towards renewable energy.
Industrial hemp
Industrial hemp is a type of hemp primarily used for industrial purposes such as papermaking, textile manufacturing, and biofuels. Industrial hemp contains only small amounts of THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana, and can be legally grown and sold in most countries. It is a sustainable plant that grows quickly in a short period of time and requires little water and fertilizer. It is also a valuable source of nutrients such as protein and fiber and can be used as a natural substitute for cotton and other non-sustainable raw materials. Among other things, industrial hemp also contains CBD, an important active ingredient that is used in medicine and cosmetics. CBD is said to have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties, and can be used to treat anxiety, pain, and sleep disorders. You can find everything about it at www.hempmate.com
Ecological footprint
The ecological footprint is a measure of the environmental impact of human activities and measures the area of natural resources required to support a person’s or society’s resource use and waste disposal. It refers to the area of land, water, and air required to produce food, housing, energy, and other things and services. The larger the footprint, the greater the burden on the environment and the greater the impact on natural resources and biodiversity. A 2020 Global Footprint Network study examining the environmental footprints of 162 countries found that, on average, the environmental footprints of developed countries were nearly three times those of emerging economies.
Ozone (O3)
Ozone is a triatomic molecule of oxygen (O3) found in the stratosphere, where it is called the ozone layer. It protects us from harmful UV rays by absorbing and reflecting them.
Greenhouse effect
The greenhouse effect describes the process by which greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide block heat radiation from the earth and thus increase the temperatures on earth.
Greenhouse gases
Greenhouse gases are gases present in the atmosphere that absorb and return thermal energy, resulting in an increase in temperatures on Earth. They contain carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, fluorocarbons and water vapor and their emissions are mainly due to human use of fossil fuels, land use change, industrial processes and other activities.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is a clean and renewable energy source that produces no emissions of greenhouse gases or other pollutants. It can be made by the electrolysis of water, which uses electricity to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen can also be produced from biomass, hydrogen-rich gases and from renewable energy sources. It can be used in fuel cells to generate electricity and heat or used as a fuel in fuel cell cars. Hydrogen can also be used as an energy store to store and transport energy from renewable energy sources.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is an international organization that deals with the issue of climate change. It was founded in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Program. The IPCC collects, reviews and synthesizes scientific, technical and socio-economic information on climate change and makes recommendations and policy proposals based on it. It aims to provide policy makers worldwide with scientifically sound and independent information to combat climate change.
Two-degree target
The two-degree target is a political goal that aims to limit global warming to a maximum of 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial times. This target was agreed in 2015 by the member states of the United Nations and aims to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. It is based on scientific evidence that an increase in the global mean temperature by more than 2 degrees Celsius would increase the likelihood of severe and irreversible climate impacts. In order to achieve the two-degree target, it is necessary to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, promote adaptation to climate change and promote renewable energy sources.