Global warming model: our individual contribution

Model itself

Explanation

This model is a demonstration of all the problems we face trying to live sustainably in the UK in 2005. It is reasonably accurate. We know the worlds temperature will be higher in 2100, and estimates vary from 2-10oC. This model uses the 5oC increase (really the mean of all estimates).
We all contribute, those in the rich countries far more than others. Even if goods are manufactured in China, it is our 'purchase' that stimulates the manufacture, so really we have responsibility for that pollution.
The exact numbers are estimates...but we know the relative value of the pollution of all aspects of our life, as in this model. Naturally this model is not comprehensive..for example, it does not cover public transport on buses or trains, but by designing our society with more local facilities and jobs much transport-based pollution could be reduced.

Air travel

Figures from here: http://www.natenergy.org.uk/convert.htm . Short distance flights cause more pollution per mile, but air travel is one of the major pollutants. As air travel is increasing, his represents a major dilemma for individuals and society in general.
Are we polluting if the plane is flying anyway?.....an age old dilemma.

Car Travel

Figures from here: http://www.natenergy.org.uk/convert.htm . Naturally large cars pollute less. Indeed, much of the CO2 comes from car manufacture, so really we contribute even if we own a car and don't use it.

Homes and heating

Naturally large non-insulated homes pollute more. Figures from here: http://www.natenergy.org.uk/convert.htm . We need to insulate our homes a lot more, and a very well insulated home is nearly sustainable, especially if shared with others.

Temperature of our home.

Each 1 oC increases heating energy use by 10%, unless our home is very well insulated indeed as it should be.
Naturally if we have more than one home we will pollute more. C02 will have been released in the building of the home, and in the manufacture of its contents (even if we do not heat more than one home at a time).

Purchases

We know that our purchases contribute to about 50% of our pollution. We should eat and buy locally grown/manufactured food, grown organically....only this way will we reduce the contribution from food. There is simply no need for so much packaging.
Similarly, whilst buying new items of clothing or other items is essential at times, we buy far more than we need.

Carbon dioxide CO2

We know that CO2 contributes to 75% of global warming (see, but there are many other sources). We can work out the relative contributions of each aspect of our life by calculating the relative contribution of CO2. We know the amount of C02 in the atmosphere, and how much it increases each year (here), so we can estimate how much temperature increase is caused by each aspect of our life.

The temperature rise figures given are in 10-10 oC, that is 0.000 000 000 1 degrees C (1x10-10oC). As there are 7 000,000,000 people on the planet, if we all produced a temperature rise of
0.000 000 000 1 degrees C, this would produce a temperature rise of 0.1oC.
Figures for temperature rise are given for each year.
But if we all produced as much pollution as in the UK, (nearly 100x10-10oC) , that would be a 100 times greater than the 0.1oC, =10oC...that is enough C02 to produce a 10 degree rise if continued until 2100.