Climate Change

An ever increasing number of people are developing their awareness of the implications of global warming.  Scientific research recognises that we must undertake proactive actions to ensure future sustainability.

We must acknowledge that this warming is influenced by human activity and with careful long term management, we can affect a cure.

Global warming is caused by what we term 'Greenhouse Gases' which blanket and insulate the Earth, preventing much of the heat received as solar radiation from escaping back into space.  The main greenhouse gas is Carbon Dioxide.  This gas has increased in the atmosphere by nearly 30% in the past 200 years.  The rate of increase is rising each decade.

No-one really knows what will happen if this level of CO2 is not controlled and reduced, but many scientists predict that if left unchecked, the Earths' climate will reach a tipping point within the next 50 years.  Beyond this tipping point, most fear that uncontrollable changes will occur in the Earths' climate with catastrophic consequences. Most Western economies are well above the per person average in relation to the level of greenhouse gas emissions they produce.  For example, USA carbon dioxide emissions are five times the world average, whilst Australia's emissions are six times the world average.

The political will to implement the industrial, economic and social restructuring required to achieve a safe and stable climate is a significant factor in addressing climate change.  It is heartening to see our Australian Federal Government taking the first steps towards creating a system of controlling our greenhouse gases.  Hopefully the government will be able to sufficiently impress us all with the gravity of the situation and be able to introduce enough social and economic changes in our present systems to have a lasting effect. As individuals we cannot continue to postpone the introduction of climate change saving controls.  We must support the establishment of appropriate systems with realistic and achievable goals to be implemented now, not decades into the future.

REDUCE WHERE YOU CAN, OFFSET WHERE YOU CAN'T

Implementing a program to reduce carbon emissions and offsetting the unavoidable emissions through the purchase of carbon credits provides an effective strategy to combat global warming.  The measurement of current greenhouse gas emissions will highlight areas in our lives that are causing significant carbon dioxide emissions.

A carbon reduction plan includes;

• Being more efficient in energy use - in heating, lighting and materials used.
• Change inefficeient and wasteful systems - in travel, household appliances and building design.
• Buy green or renewable products - become an agent of change.

Purchasing carbon credits generated by a commercial carbon sequestration operation provides an effective entry point into establishing an offsetting plan.

Currently the most practical and efficient large scale carbon sequestration system is re-forestation.  Re-forestation is as transitionary stage of early climate control, whilst industries invent and introduce new carbon capturing technologies.

Large areas of marginal cropping land and denuded grazing land are available for this purpose.  Land prices and establishment practices will be important factors in cost efficient and environmentally sustainable carbon removal systems. With over 40 years of successful plantation management experience, Carbon Balance Solutions Pty Ltd is well positioned to work in partnership with our stakeholders in their carbon offsetting needs.