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June 30, 2007

Calculate Your Carbon Footprint and Then Take Steps to Reduce It

by Harvey Bryan for the Arizona Republic

The subject of global warming is the focus of considerable national and international attention of late. Taking action, however, does not have to be so distant or dependent on governments. There is a lot an individual or household can do, such as measure its “carbon footprint.” This concept was created to measure the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) that an activity releases into the atmosphere, thereby contributing to global warming. Once your footprint is calculated, you can make changes to your behavior or lifestyle to reduce that footprint. Carbon footprinting can be undertaken at various scales: the units of measure are usually in pounds or kilograms of CO₂ per year for the smaller scale or metric tons of CO₂ for the larger scale. Value through the use of offsets has also been placed on CO₂. Carbon offsets can be purchased from $6 to $30 per metric ton of CO₂ per year from a seller who promises to use that money to neutralize or offset your CO₂ emissions. > Read more…

June 9, 2007

ASU’s Global Institute of Sustainability: Guiding Arizona’s Long-Term Future

by Jonathan Fink for the Arizona Republic

Arizona is a state built on optimism – a welcoming land of dazzling landscapes, abundant sunshine, and seemingly limitless economic opportunity.

But lately there is a growing unease among our citizens, concern that the bounty that drew us here might be running out. The decade-long drought might turn into a 1930s-style Dust Bowl. The choking “brown cloud” of air pollution might never lift. Night-time temperatures might pass the century mark and keep on rising. Freeway construction might never relieve the growing load of traffic. > Read more…