- Carbon Diet
A Carbon Diet refers to reducing the impact on
climate change by reducinggreenhouse gas (principallyCO2 ) production.Individuals and businesses produce
carbon dioxide from daily activities such as driving, heating, and the consumption of products and services. To reduce the effects of climate change, we could reduce our carbon output by going on a carbon diet.There are references to the use of the term carbon diet in several publications.
The term "carbon diet" is used in the book Gore: A Political Life [Bob Zelnick, “Gore: A Political Life,” Regnery Publishing, Inc., 1999] ]
"And many scientists and economists maintain that the costs of adapting to any change are both easier to achieve politically and more efficacious scientifically than trying to avoid the problem through a crash carbon diet." p330
Deborah Jones from [http://www.theglobeandmail.com The Globe & Mail] newspaper writes "It's week two of my family's "carbon diet" -- a Globe and Mail assignment to see how my family of four adults can cut its greenhouse-gas emissions to match the provincial goal of a 33-per-cent reduction..." [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v5/content/subscribe?user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2Fstory%2FLAC.20070330.BCGREENDIET30%2FTPStory%2FTPNational%2FBritishColumbia%2F&ord=1131774&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true Deborah Jones, "Stepping Towards Greener Pastures: Part 2 of BC family's carbon diet focusses on transportation," The Globe and Mail, March 30, 2007] ]
This differs from a
Low Carbon Diet which refers to making choices about eating that reducegreenhouse gas emissions.Key Components of a Carbon Diet
A Carbon Diet is similar to a food diet. It starts with assessing weight (measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide) and then determining where the ideal weight should be. The following outlines the steps of a Carbon Diet:
* Calculate aCarbon footprint to understand the amount of carbon dioxide emissions
* Measure the carbon footprint against peers (e.g., similar company size or for individuals, a national average)
* Determine the ideal carbon footprint
* Identify the source of the most significant carbon dioxide emissions
* Reduce carbon dioxide emissions by starting with the most significant sources firstSee also
*
Carbon footprint
*Going green
*Low carbon diet
*Sustainable living References
External links
* [http://ngm.typepad.com/carbon_diet/ J P Miller, "The Carbon Diet," National Geographic]
* [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/warming/carbon/ Rob Meyer, “Your Carbon Diet,” PBS]
* [http://www.slate.com/id/2151739/ Meghan O'Neil, “Your Eight-Week Carbon Diet,” Slate]
* [http://carbondiet.ca/ Carbon Diet]
* [http://www.carbondiet.org/ CarbonDiet.org]
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