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The Open University

Environment: treading lightly on the Earth

The Open University via OpenLearn

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Overview

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Environment: treading lightly on the Earth focuses on the problem of greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide. This free course will give you an understanding of the nature and importance of carbon footprints of individuals and households. It will enable you to measure your own carbon footprint and explore what you could do to reduce that footprint and so ‘tread more lightly on the Earth’. This content forms part of the Dangoor Education collection, the educational arm of The Exilarch's Foundation.  

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • 1 What is the carbon footprint, and why is it important?
  • 1 What is the carbon footprint, and why is it important?
  • 1.1 Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases
  • 1.2 The carbon footprint boundary
  • 1.3 Individual and household carbon footprints
  • 1.3.1 Converting carbon to CO2 (or CO2e) emissions
  • 1.4 Total footprint
  • 1.4.1 Percentages and parts per million (ppm)
  • 1.5 Summary of Section 1
  • 2 Not all footprints are equally heavy
  • 2 Not all footprints are equally heavy
  • 2.1 The carbon footprint of UK individuals and households
  • 2.1.1 Averages – mean and median
  • 2.1.2 The effect of incomes and household types
  • 2.2 Household carbon footprints in other developed countries
  • 2.2.1 Carbon footprint components
  • 2.3 International comparisons of carbon footprints
  • 2.3.1 Carbon footprints per person
  • 2.3.2 Total carbon footprints
  • 2.3.3 Differences between people and places
  • 2.3.4 Rounding numbers, decimal places and significant figures
  • 2.3.5 Viewing and listening for a purpose
  • 2.3.6 Carbon footprint at home
  • 2.4 Summary of Section 2
  • 3 How heavy is your footprint?
  • 3 How heavy is your footprint?
  • 3.1 Calculating your carbon footprint
  • 3.2 Summary of Section 3
  • 4 Reducing your carbon footprint
  • 4 Reducing your carbon footprint
  • 4.1 Carbon reduction targets
  • 4.2 Actions for lighter living
  • 4.2.1 Deciding what action to take
  • 4.3 Lighter living costs and constraints
  • 4.4 Moving towards a sustainable carbon footprint
  • 4.4.1 Low-carbon living
  • 4.4.2 How can you reduce your carbon footprint?
  • 4.5 Summary of Section 4
  • 5 Who’s responsible for reducing carbon footprints?
  • 5 Who’s responsible for reducing carbon footprints?
  • 5.1 The role of individuals and households
  • 5.2 The role of active citizens and communities
  • 5.2.1 Voluntary carbon offsets
  • 5.3 The role of governments and business
  • 5.3.1 Government taxation and subsidies
  • 5.3.2 Government, business and international actions
  • 5.3.3 Further reducing your carbon footprint
  • 5.4 Summary of Section 5
  • Conclusion
  • References
  • Acknowledgements

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4.1 rating at OpenLearn based on 7 ratings

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