Below we have a list of the questions we are asked most often. If you have a question that isn't answered below then please feel free to send us an email at myemissions@bigpond.com.  We shall try to respond promptly.


Questions

1. What is global warming?
For more information on what global warming is, some of the possible consequences of climate change and some of the consequences for your own region please visit our Global Warming link.

2. What are carbon offsets?
Carbon offsetting has recently taken-off as a way for individuals and businesses to become 'carbon neutral'. Imagine you make a return long haul air trip (estimated average one way distance of 6,482km) you are responsible for 2.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions. You can pay to offset your proportion of the carbon emitted on that journey and the money will go towards a carbon reduction scheme. This could be anything from tree plantings in India to installing energy efficient light-bulbs in Jamaica.

3. What is carbon trading?
Carbon trading is a scheme in which polluting businesses can buy and sell permits to emit carbon dioxide. Companies are allocated a limit to the amount they can emit. If they want to emit more, they have to buy unused permits off companies that have cut emissions below their own allowance. Companies that go over their limit without buying extra permits are fined. The overall level of allowed emissions is reduced over time.

4. What are renewable energy resources?
Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, tidal and wave power offer an alternative to burning fossil fuels. Wind turbines currently produce less than 1% of the world's electricity supply, but it's the fastest growing of the renewable energy sources.

5. What are hybrid cars?
Hybrid cars are powered by a combination of energy sources. Petrol and electric is the most popular hybrid type. The idea is to cut down the amount of fossil fuels burnt in the car to reduce exhaust emissions.

6. What are hydrogen fuel cells?
A hydrogen fuel cell emits no carbon dioxide. Heat and water are the only by-products. But electricity is required when extracting the hydrogen from the water. This electricity has to come from somewhere to begin with, and that could be a greenhouse gas emitting, coal burning power station.

7. Who are the world's worst annual emitters?

table showing world worst emissions by total carbon emissions and per capita

8. How to Print?
We have provided printer firendly links for all pages that we feel you might be interested in printing. If you would like to print a page that doesn't have a printer friendly icon, then it is best to convert the page to PDF and then print the PDF.