Calculate Your Carbon Footprint

Act on CO2

Climate change is a serious problem that affects us all. There is strong evidence that human emissions of greenhouse gases are changing the world's climate. The main greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide (CO2), produced when we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas for energy.

Over 40 per cent of CO2 emissions in the UK come directly from what we do as individuals; for example, heating and using electricity in our homes - and driving vehicles. Flights are the next biggest source of individuals’ CO2 emissions.

There are many ways the Government is planning to help you act on reducing CO2 emissions - now and in the future. This means working in partnership with businesses, organisations and manufacturers. These include:

Home and housing

* Working with manufacturers and retailers to phase out inefficient light bulbs
* Providing better information to consumers about the products and services they buy and use – including gas, electricity and water
* Working with manufacturers to remove inefficient ‘white goods’ – such as fridges - from the market
* Encouraging developers to build in good access to public transport when they are planning new homes
* Improving building regulations to make new homes more energy efficient
* Introducing Energy Performance Certificates so that when you buy a house you have more information about how energy efficient it is

The Government is also thinking about ideas such as allowing householders to fit renewable technologies such as solar panels without the need for planning permission.

Travel and transport

* Providing more train carriages where they are most needed
* Improving vehicle fuel efficiency - for example by linking car tax rates to car fuel efficiency
* Encouraging and supporting workplace or school travel plans and cycle training for children

Community, business and environment

* Increasing recycling facilities at the kerbside, in the office and in public places
* Working with the regulator to set targets for water companies to reduce leakage from their networks
* Reduce packaging and encourage single-use shopping bags

Calculate your carbon footprint!

Calculate your carbon footprint using Directgov's interactive tool at:
http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk/index.html

Let's get going

If you want to find out about more ways to reduce your CO2 emissions, have a look at the Government’s quick guide to greener living and what you can do.