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On a practical basis, measuring carbon footprint provides a number of direct benefits. By way of collecting data for a carbon footprint, it is easy to recognize and then prioritise where one can make the most significant improvements in terms of utilising fuel, energy and similar resources. 

 What is a carbon footprint? 

 In simple terms, it is a measure of the contribution made to climatic change. There are two main categories of carbon footprint including product and organisational carbon footprint. The former type of footprint is the greenhouse gas emissions that are emitted over a time span of twelve months and gives a figure, wherein the amount of carbon is expressed in terms of tonnes and more precisely a carbon dioxide equivalent. There are a total of six gases that are greenhouse gases and are emitted due to human activities that greatly contribute to the phenomenon of global warming. 

 Here is a step-wise guide that helps calculate the carbon footprint:

Deciding the scope-

 Initiate by setting boundaries for the footprint. The approach for the same will depend on an individual’s major sources of emissions i.e., the sources that decide the amount of data that is available. Carbon footprints include three scopes, wherein the third scope is the most complex to measure. For smaller businesses, measuring the emissions include vehicle usage and consumption of electricity. 

 Collection of data-

 Once the activities that have to be measured are well-identified, the collection of data can then begin utilising a metric that is relevant. These activities must be tracked accurately, jotted down and segregated into the three different scopes. 

 Calculate emissions-

 In order to precisely calculate the footprint, convert the collected data using the carbon dioxide equivalent factor of conversion for each of the emissions. It is a common practice to calculate the carbon footprint annually. It can furthermore be aligned with the period of accounting. 

 Effective usage for identification of improvement areas-

 Once the carbon footprint is calculated, the data can be used to identify the measures that can be taken to reduce carbon emissions in a cost-effective manner. For example, if the usage of electricity is making the greatest contribution to your carbon footprint, measures must be prioritized in a way that reduces the use of electricity. 

Offsetting the carbon footprint-

 From a business point of view, carbon footprint offsetting is a great opportunity to make improvements in terms of efficiency for business purposes and benefiting the bottom line. The progress can then be communicated both internally as well as externally for moving a step ahead towards a better environment. 

Conclusion

 At C6 Energy, the Graphene battery technology is an innovative green carbon footprint technology that significantly contributes to sustainable development for a cleaner and greener future.

We all leave a carbon footprint behind as part of the modern-day world. Eating, travelling and even shopping, causes CO2 emissions to be released in the environment. In terms of an organization, all business activities, be it industrial processing, electricity generation or even simply commuting, contributes to the overall carbon footprint of the corporation. In order to effectively reach the targets of a stable climate, it is important to extensively cut down on the carbon emissions. However, even if we cut down on a maximum of the emissions, there would still be enough carbon that persists in the environment. This is why it becomes important to compensate for the same by providing support to projects that are aiming towards reducing the emissions. Carbon offsetting is about reducing the emissions and contributing positively to the environment.

What is carbon offsetting?

In theoretical terms, carbon offsetting is not complicated. It includes calculating the estimated emissions of the greenhouse gases that are potentially generated from mechanisms that involve any type of fossil-fuel burning and then offset the derived estimate through emission-reducing initiatives that are funded elsewhere. The carbon offset concept comes from the ‘Kyoto Protocol’, which was a nation-wide agreement attempting to stabilize the concentration of green-house gases present in the atmosphere. This was aimed at preventing any interference with the normal and stabilized climate of the earth.

On the carbon compliance market, countries exceeding their greenhouse gas emissions may purchase or trade carbon credits from countries with an emissions deficit. One credit equals one metric ton of greenhouse gas emissions. In the same way, businesses also can trade on the spin-off markets, offering carbon credits for using cleaner production methods to businesses with significant emissions… and the need for some green marketing.

Does carbon offsetting allow us to continue operating the way we are?

No. It does not.

Compensation is simpler and in fact cheaper than working towards reduced carbon emissions and figuring out ways to reduce it. However, in order to prevent the worst possible effects of climate change, we not only need to cut down on our emissions but additionally, offset greater than what we emit. Striving towards becoming carbon-neutral is one such approach.

We already exceeded the safe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in 1987. Even if we cut emissions down to zero today, we would still need to remove that excess carbon from the atmosphere. We need to all become carbon negative. It is the same as with plastic. Yes, we need to stop letting more plastic get into the ocean, but we also need to invest in ways to clean up the waste that is already littering our oceans.

Conclusion

Even though we have already exceeded the level of carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere that is ‘safe’, cutting down on carbon emissions will still contribute to reducing excessive carbon that is present in the environment. C6 Energy is setting an example of carbon neutrality and contributing to the environment through reduced carbon emissions with its Graphene battery technology.

With an increase in the understanding of the climatic crisis, we are more aware of the harm that we are causing to ourselves, the environment and the economy of a country. It, therefore, becomes important to work towards reducing carbon and carbon emissions on an individualistic basis. Carbon neutral, zero emissions, net-zero, and carbon negative are all terms that are commonly heard. However, with an increased number of efforts that are being made towards a clean and sustainable environment, it is crucial to understand how these terms differ and what they actually mean. 

The actual difference between the two terms

Net-zero carbon and carbon neutral are two terms that are often used interchangeably. However, the two terms are not interchangeable. Carbon neutral refers to a policy that supports decreasing carbon emissions and ultimately achieving reduced carbon emissions with offsets. Net-zero carbon emissions, on the other hand, involve making certain changes that contribute to reducing the carbon emissions to the lowest possible amount and carbon offsetting is considered to be the very last resort. This is because carbon offsetting is used to counteract the vital emissions that remain post all the initiatives for carbon emission reduction have been made and implemented well. 

Be it carbon neutrality or net-zero carbon emissions, carbon offsetting functions to remove carbon dioxide from the environment. For carbon offsetting to actually count, the CO2 removal must be permanent and licenced or accredited. Projects that help achieve reduced emissions in the atmosphere offer both community and social benefits. These projects can include the planting of trees, conservation, afforestation, to funding projects that are empowering individuals to reduce their fossil fuel dependence. Additionally, investments can be made that reduce GHG emissions.

Initiatives that help achieve carbon neutrality

Offsetting projects as part of carbon neutrality improve and enhance rainwater absorption, production of food, improve the quality of soil and biodiversity. Projects that particularly enhance the quality of soil are pertinent to climate change, and global warming as the soil is the most significant store of carbon, holding three times the carbon that is present in the atmosphere. Soil quality is an important factor when it comes to carbon offsetting and is often overlooked. A net-zero carbon commitment focuses only on reducing carbon emissions. This approach requires an initial measurement of the carbon footprint. This can then be followed by strategic initiatives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions with effective implementation of solutions for renewable energy use and then, finally, carbon offsetting.

Conclusion

In order to protect the environment from global warming, net-zero carbon emissions must be achieved on a global level. It must also be persistent, meaning that the greenhouse gases that are removed from the atmosphere are not released back into the atmosphere. At C6 Energy, we develop Graphene battery technology that utilises green carbon for a green footprint.

Achieving the desirable climate requires more than simply cutting down on the carbon emissions. In addition to this, it is almost impossible for all sectors and industries that come within these sectors to achieve absolutely zero carbon emissions in the coming decades. This is because it is extremely challenging to reduce carbon emissions in the agriculture sector and vehicle usage or mobility to zero. Additionally, it is a challenge to offset the greenhouse gases like nitrous oxide and methane. Taking important steps like keeping the global temperature steady and not allowing for a rise that exceeds 1.5 degrees greater than the pre-industrial level. These measures could contribute to considerably removing the CO2 from the atmosphere. It has been increasingly suggested that the global level transition of energy storage and consumption requires an entire portfolio of steps and technologies that contributes to the reduction in CO2 emissions.

Solutions that aim at reducing or cutting down on the carbon emissions can be categorised into three main groups: carbon-sink solutions that are nature-based, further enhancement of the existing natural processes and novel technologies. Within these categories, the individualistic approaches are interlinked in a number of ways that come with benefits that go beyond just the reduction in CO2 emissions. One of the easiest ways to develop carbon sinks is by stopping the cutting down of trees (deforestation) and opting for reforestation. In simple terms, trees are responsible for absorbing and storing carbon but once cut down, the dead trees increase the CO2 emissions. However, there are concerns about the forest wildfires potentially destroying the carbon store, so encouraging reforestation alone can not be considered a silver bullet.

Enhancement of the natural processes

The earth’s natural processes store carbon, however, the enhancement of the natural processes through effective, proactive and strategic management can help reduce the carbon emissions. For example, improvised land management techniques can effectively store CO2. These methods include the usage of seaweed and biochar. Waste management is important but is challenging. The organic waste can be converted into biochar and utilised as soil that minimizes the waste production, while at the same time, establishing a carbon sink. Seaweed plays a significant role in naturally moving C02 from the atmosphere into the oceanic sediments. With better management of the areas that are seaweed-dense are considered to be carbon negative and can facilitate reduced carbon emissions, ultimately leading to a better management of the environment whilst dealing with the climate crisis.

Conclusion

Innovative technologies that function to reduce the carbon emissions by targeting the source of CO2 and by facilitating the effective storage and consumption of carbon. C6 Energy’s Graphene battery technology facilitates the effective storage and consumption of energy that contributes to reduced carbon emissions by being completely carbon-neutral.