34
Sustainability and the built environment
Figure 10 - Stern report (continued)
GOVErnMEnT rESPOnSE
• Create a global market for carbon pricing.
• Extend the European Emissions Trading Scheme (EETS) globally, bringing in
countries such as the US, India and China.
• Set new target for EETS to reduce carbon emissions by 30% by 2020 and 60%
by 2050.
• Pass a bill to enshrine carbon reduction targets and create a new independent
body to monitor progress.
• Create a new commission to spearhead British company investment in green
technology, with the aim of creating 100,000 new jobs.
• Former US vice-president Al Gore will advise the government on the issue.
• Work with the World Bank and other financial institutions to create a $20bn fund
to help poor countries adjust to climate change challenges.
• Work with Brazil, Papua New Guinea and Costa Rica to promote sustainable forestry
and prevent deforestation.
The problems caused by climate change are not ones we have faced before; and
our heavy dependence on fossil fuels makes it difficult to adapt to alternatives. But
change we must, because sources of fossil fuel are running out.
The effects of climate change are thought likely to present issues of international
security, as political borders are challenged by localised weather extremes such as
drought and flooding. It is also predicted that the decline of oil as a resource will
further push up its price, causing greatly increased conflict between those nations
supplying it and those dependent upon it. It is possible, however, that this may make
alternative energy sources, such as renewables, more cost effective by comparison.
4.5 Carbon footprint
The ‘carbon footprint’ is a measure of the impact human activities have on the
environment purely in terms of the amount of GHG (measured in units of carbon or
carbon dioxide) produced. It is not a measure of sustainability but a measure of energy
consumed by the ‘footprinter’. It can be applied to the consumption of individuals as
well as that of organisations and nations.
A carbon footprint is calculated from both a direct, or primary, footprint and an
indirect, or secondary, one:
• The primary footprint is a measure of direct emissions of CO
2
from the burning of
fossil fuels, including domestic energy consumption and transportation.
• The secondary footprint is a measure of the indirect CO
2
emissions from the
whole life cycle of products we use – those associated with their manufacture
and eventual breakdown.
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