International Reducing CO2 Emissions Day

January 28 is designated as a day to represent the global response to the Kyoto Protocol which binds countries legally to reduce their carbon emissions by 2020. The effects of climate change are already being seen with more irregular weather phenomenon causing either floods or heat waves. If New Delhi’s smog is anything to go by, we must start now or risk our health and our children’s health.

An environmental research journal report by Swedish researchers has identified four things people can do to reduce their carbon dioxide footprint.

  • Going car-free saves about 2.4 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year.
  • Eating a plant-based diet saves 0.8 tonnes of CO2 equivalent a year.
  • Avoiding airplane travel saves about 1.6 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per trip.
  • Having one fewer child saves an average of 58.6 tonnes of CO2-equivalent emission reductions per year.