CARBON FOOTPRINT
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What is a
carbon footprint?
Your
carbon footprint is the direct effect your actions and
lifestyle have on the environment in terms of carbon dioxide emissions.
A
Carbon Footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on
the
environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced,
measured in
units of carbon dioxide. Actions and activities
creating carbon and
other green house gasses contribute to accelerating global warming and
climate
change.
Everyone has
a responsibility to the world we live
in now and the world we leave future generations. Reducing our
emissions is
obviously important in slowing or even reversing climate change
— but with
world economies booming our carbon emissions are on the rise. CO2 is the largest
component of Green House
Gasses, accounting for more than 82% of the US Green House Gasses in
2006, and
the Transportation sector accounts for more than 34% of CO2 emissions. Therefore, it is
our goal at Sokolis Group to
consult individuals and fleets about how to specifically reduce
transportation
emissions, since the fuel supply chain and transportation is our core
business.
Climate Change
Climate
change is a significant shift in temperature and weather patterns
around the
world. While some changes are normal, the vast majority of scientists
agree
that our activities are causing dramatic changes to the
Earth’s climate.
Over the last three hundred years we have radically increased our use of energy sources like oil, coal and natural gas. Burning these fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
A little bit of carbon dioxide is a good thing – it keeps the planet warm and habitable. Now, however, we are putting so much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere that the planet is getting too warm. This problem is also called the greenhouse effect .
Effects
The effects of climate change are already visible – melting glaciers, the migration of plant and animal species, and an increase in severe storms, to name a few.
What will happen next? No one can say for sure, but here are some possibilities:
- Rising sea levels destroy coastal areas
- Frequent and intense heat waves
- More droughts and wildfires
- Extinction of millions of species
- Spreading of weather-sensitive disease
Carbon Offsets
Offset means “neutralize,” “balance,” or “cancel out.” When we do certain activities like drive, fly or heat our homes we emit carbon dioxide. Carbon offsets counteract these activities by funding projects that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
When you buy a carbon offset, therefore, you are helping to fund a project that reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon offsets are an easy and affordable way to compensate for our contribution to climate change. They are a critical piece of the solution to global warming because they push investments into new technologies and programs that make a difference today.
Even though engine manufactures and the use of alternative fuels have worked to decrease emissions, the overall correlation between miles traveled and CO2 emissions is still very strong even today. The bottom line is the more miles traveled, the more emissions. It is critical for individuals, companies, and particularly fleets to reduce empty and unnecessary miles traveled based on the environmental and financial costs. Sokolis Group will help you to reduce out of route miles, increase asset and driver utilization, improve and track miles per gallon and revenue per mile, and capitalize on funding available for these initiatives through government and private grants. Our consulting services go beyond the price of fuel.
