What is my carbon footprint?

Climate change is the term that focuses on the changes to the Earth’s average temperature. Although changes do occur naturally, human activity has meant that the average temperature has risen at a much faster rate.

Gases that are released into the atmosphere. They trap rays from the sun and cause the temperature of the Earth to rise, also known as the ‘greenhouse effect’. 

Greenhouse gases are mainly made up of carbon dioxide (80%), but also include methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases.

Although greenhouse gases exist naturally, humans have caused them to increase dramatically.

We’re already seeing the effects of climate change, from the rise of sea levels to extreme weather patterns and, without change, some of these effects could be irreversible. 

Carbon neutral means reducing direct carbon emissions to as close to zero as possible. Even though it could be impossible to create zero emissions, the amount of CO2 that is emitted can be offset through funding.

Offsetting refers to accredited natural schemes (such as planting forests) that remove carbon from the atmosphere.

We may have heard ‘green recovery’ more since the economy took a hit during the Covid-19 pandemic. But essentially, it’s growing the economy in a way that supports the slowing and reversal of climate change caused by human activity.

It could include anything from investments in new technology to behavioural change - as long as it aims to cut emissions and have a positive effect on the climate.

COP stands for Conference of the Parties and is an annual United Nations Climate Summit to discuss how to tackle climate change. 

Each COP has been important, but extra significance is being placed on COP26 because many climate experts and governments now believe the climate is changing at rate that will be difficult, or in some cases impossible, to reverse. 

NatWest Group and COP26