Environment Clean Generations: carbon footprint

The United Nations Human Development Index is the world's all-purpose national scorecard, a single number that represents a country's success at providing a decent life for its people. But according to a Mongolian ecologist who feels his own country has been led astray, it's time to update the HDI with a critically missing component: sustainability.

"My country is likely to become one of the fastest growing economies in the world, but the current HDI offers no encouragement for it to grow sustainably," wrote Chuluun Togtokh of the National University of Mongolia in a 16 November Nature essay.

Togtokh presents an alternative ranking system, one that adds per-capita carbon emissions to the Human Development Index's standard factors of life expectancy, adult literacy and per-capita purchasing power. Carbon emissions are a shorthand for sustainability; though they tend to be linked with income, countries like Norway and Singapore show that high fuel consumption isn't absolutely necessary for prosperity, and there's no correlation between fuel consumption and health or education.

When the carbon footprint is added, the Human Development Index is thrown into disarray. Australia, the United States and Canada all drop from the top 10. The United Arab Emirates, Brunei, Qatar and Bahrain -- all countries that score high on the standard HDI -- also fall. Rising are Hong Kong, Sweden and Switzerland, while Norway stays on top. "Anyone who has visited the Nordic countries will recognise that moderation need not compromise a high standard of living," wrote Togtokh.Like any system that puts a numerical score on complex social and economical circumstances, the Human Development Index has been criticised for oversimplification. Togtokh's system, which he calls the Human Sustainable Development Index, is no different, and it's certainly possible to be carbon-responsible but overpolluting in other ways. But at least it's a start.

"With Earth's human population reaching 7 billion in the past month, it is reasonable to question the UN's true commitment to sustainability," wrote Togtokh. "The HDI has shifted the target of development beyond the almighty dollar; the proposed HSDI would go one step further, and change the role models for development."

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             Global warming is no longer a theoretical concept. While raising average global temperatures, climate change could also bring more snow, harder rain, or heat waves, meteorologists say. Computer models based on climate data from nine countries indicate every place on the planet will be hit with extreme weather events, including coastal storms and floods.
             There is emerging scientific consensus that human activity in particular through the emission of carbon dioxide has certainly contributed to drastic changes in our climate through global warming, so save our planet today.

            While waiting for political will and sanity to save our planet, prevail at the global level, each of us could do our part to reduce our carbon footprint. A Carbon Footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide. Calculate your carbon footprint here and you might save our planet.


           Here are 10 simple things you can do immediately that will start to reduce your contribution to global warming and save our planet. These things would cost you no money at all and will in fact save you money.

1. Turn off your appliances when not in use. We are all guilty of leaving our appliances on even when we are not using them. Chief among them are computers, printers, CD players and others. We also tend to leave too much lights on even when we don't need them. Save Our Planet Today!

2. Turn down the central heating slightly (try just 1 to 2 degrees C). Overheating our houses is not only wasteful but also invites pests and insects. Warm and moist areas could also grow fungus and cause rot. Save Our Planet Today!

3. Turn down the water heating setting. Just 2 degrees will make a significant saving. Lower heating would not only save cost but also save your skin as overly hot water is damaging to the skin. Save Our Planet Today!

4. Check the central heating timer setting to shut down your heating or lower after you have left for work. Save Our Planet Today!

5. Fill your dish washer and washing machine with a full load - this will save you water, electricity, and washing powder. If we have little utensils to be washed it would be a great idea to wash them by hand and drip dry them. Save Our Planet Today!

6. Fill the kettle with only as much water as you need. Save Our Planet Today!

7. Unplug your mobile phone as soon as it has finished charging. Save Our Planet Today!

8. Defrost your fridge/freezer regularly. Save Our Planet Today!

9. Do your weekly shopping in a single trip. By using our vehicles often we not only contribute to carbon emission but also create an unhealthy life style. Save Our Planet Today!

10. Hang out the washing to dry rather than tumble drying it. Save Our Planet Today!

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