TOPIC: REDUCE CO2 WITH SUSTAINABLE IT.

Introduction
Carbon dioxide emissions (Co2) within the last two decades are slowly going to excessive
climate change. Scientists predict that increase in carbon dioxide emission will cause rise in
ocean levels across the UK, this reduce the amount of sunlight and heat reflected back into
space. Other gas example methane, nitrous oxide, ozone and sulphur hexafluoride also
affect climate change but believed they are less concentrated in the atmosphere and has
less impact on climate. The last 50 years Co2 has increase and are still increasing by almost
3% every year this is cause by inevitable burning fuels like example petrol, Ethanol, diesel,
oil, natural gas, organic petrol, etc. In this report, we quantify carbon dioxide emission in
driving, home heating, and general electricity consumption. We look at the legislation put in
place to guide against Co2 emission and possible strategic approach to reduce the effect of
Co2 emission in compliance with the legislation. These approaches are collectively referred
to as Green IT.
Background
Greenhouse gases cause global warming. 72% of it is Co2, 18% Methane and 9% nitrous
oxide. As it stand Co2 emission is the largest of it all. In the cause of finding a way to reduce
this emission government in different part of the world came together in series of climate
change conference and set target to reduce the emission of co2. The Kyoto Protocol is an
agreement internationally which introduce a suite of climate change legislation. Under these
legislation, industrialised nation are to reduce their emission of co2 by 8%, these was a good
start but suffers because country like china and India who are the biggest emitters of co2
were excluded initially. In 2050, temperature will increase by 2.1-2.8C according to
prediction compared to a historical average and by 2100, 4.35.3C of the earth is predicted
to be warm, while 59cm of the sea level in the next century will rise. This is as a result of the
burning of fossil fuel to produce electricity and heat, as the number of people and industry
increase carbon emission is projected to increases globally by 2.5%, so if anything, the
problems carbon emission causes, will get worse not better, unless dramatic changes is
made.
Measuring the Impact of Carbon Dioxide on the Environment
The impact of carbon footprint measures the activities on our environment. The greenhouse
gases we are expected to produce in all our activities is calculated and measure in units of
carbon dioxide. In the world it average is about 4,000 kg of carbon dioxide per person per
year while in UK is almost 10,000 kg per person per year.

Environmental Damage by Co2 Emission

Driving, home heating and electricity consumptions are major source responsible for Co2
emission. Studies reveal that in 2010, 41% of fossil fuel is produced from this sector around
the world. Around 60-90% of industrialise nation relies heavily on coal and get their electricity
from the combustion of fossil fuel. The emission from this electricity, heating and driving has
effect on the health and safety of the citizens. When people inhale this emission, in form of
respiration it affects cardiovascular system which leads to premature death, heart failure and
asthma. The effect of this gas emission causes damages on ozone layer and depletion
which leads to global warming, burning of skin due to excessive heat and high chances of
skin cancer.
Legislation vs Co2
The legally binding target has prompted the UK government to look into a number of steps to
reduce the emission of greenhouse effect. In 1995 the UK signed a to a Kyoto protocol. In
2009 , the Co2 emission output in the UK was approximately 520m tonnes, of which
building created around 45%. None domestic-building in UK which amount to 2 million
account for approximately 17% or 88 million tonnes of this total and 60% of these building in
2050 will still exist. Through research carried out by Carbon Trust, economic benefit of
reducing these emissions is values at 4.5 billion by 2020. Several legislative has been put
in place by the UK government after an international agreement to help achieve the aim of
reducing carbon emissions of 34% by 2020 and 80% by 2050, as compared to 1990 levels.
This legislation includes The Climate Change Act 2008, revisions to Building Regulations
such as Part L (Conservation of fuel and Power) 2010, initiatives such as the Carbon
Reduction Commitment (CRC), Energy Efficiency Scheme and the Green Deal.
Assessing the loopholes of the Legislation
Penalties is being place through a system of fine, to enforce Co2 emission legislation,
example UK set up a scheme call CRC (carbon Reduction Commitment) to cut carbon

emission by 1.2 million tonnes of carbon per year by 2020. The target is the non energy
intensive and public sector organisation that exceeds 6,000 MWh per year combine of
electricity, only CCAs subsidiary organization emission of 25% is exempted. For provision of
inaccurate footprint from organisation, they have to pay 40/tCo2 and failure to report will be
5000 plus 500/day.