People throughout Ireland have been called upon to find out what their carbon count number is as countries around the globe celebrate World Environment Day.
Speaking this morning, Minister for the Environment John Gormley said that Ireland is committed to playing its part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions to help prevent climate change.
"Ireland is one of the world’s largest producers of greenhouse gas emissions per capita, but we could become a world leader in addressing these emissions. The biggest contributor to climate change is carbon dioxide, which mostly comes from burning fossil fuels. Much of what we do involves the use of energy generated through burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, gas and peat, so the way we live, work and travel has a huge bearing on climate change," said Mr Gormley.
The Department of the Environment recently set up a website which enables individuals to calculate their carbon footprint as part of the Government's climate change awareness campaign.
“Reducing our overall carbon number is the challenge we face in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change and I encourage everybody to find out what their carbon count number is," the Minister said.
Mr Gormley's comments came as the UN called on the world to "kick its addiction" to carbon dioxide and take steps to fight climate change.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said today that global warming was becoming the defining issue of the era and will hurt rich and poor alike.
"Our world is in the grip of a dangerous carbon habit," Mr Ban said in a statement to mark World Environment Day, which is being marked by events around the globe and hosted by the New Zealand city of Wellington.
"Addiction is a terrible thing. It consumes and controls us, makes us deny important truths and blinds us to the consequences of our actions," he said in the speech to reinforce this year's World Environment Day theme of - CO2 - Kick the Habit .
"Whether you are an individual, an organisation, a business or a government, there are many steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint. It is a message we all must take to heart," he said.
World Environment Day, conceived in 1972, is the United Nations' principal day to mark global green issues and aims to give a human face to environmental problems and solutions.
New Zealand, like many countries, staged art and street festivals to spread the message on how people can reduce carbon usage.
Many Asian cities, such as Bangalore and Mumbai, plan tree-planting campaigns, while a number of European countries, including Ireland, are also hosting events aimed at boosting environmental awareness.
The organisers behind this year's Oxegen festival announced today that for the first time it has been awarded CarbonNeutral event status.
The festival's organisers have worked with the CarbonNeutral company to measure the carbon dioxide produced by the event in roder to reduce CO2 levels.
It said that emmissions from this year's festival will be offset by two renewable energy initiatives: the Sebenoba-Karakurt Wind Power Project in Turkey and The Sichuan Province Hydro Power Project in China.
Global carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels are rising quickly and scientists say the world faces rising seas, melting glaciers and more intense storms, droughts and floods as the planet warms.
A summit of G8 nations in Hokkaido, Japan, next month, is due to formalise a goal agreed a year ago that global carbon emissions should be reduced by 50 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050.
But some nations think the cuts should be deeper, leading to a reduction of 80 per cent of carbon emissions by 2050 to try to stabilize CO2 concentrations in the air to limit global warming.
The UN Environment Program (UNEP) said the cost of greening of the world's economy would cost as little as a few tenths of global GDP annually over 30 years and would be a driving force for innovation, new businesses and employment.
The UNEP urged greater energy efficiency in buildings and appliances and a switch towards cleaner and renewable forms of electricity generation and transport systems.
Additional reporting: Reuters
