Are you a green genius? Or carbon-confused? If you'd like to understand the basics of climate change or would like to learn more about what Eurostar's plans are, here's a brief guide.
Why is the climate changing?
The term climate change refers to the variation in the earth's temperature, in particular the rise in the average surface temperature, known as global warming. Rising carbon dioxide levels in the upper atmosphere, primarily resulting from the burning of fossil fuels, are responsible for accelerating global warming.
What's Carbon Dioxide?
Carbon Dioxide is a gas that's naturally present in the earth's atmosphere. You may see Carbon Dioxide referred to as CO2, or just as carbon. Carbon Dioxide is the gas that is emitted when we burn fossil fuels (like oil, coal and gas) to generate energy. As the world's energy needs have grown, so have our emissions of Carbon Dioxide. Carbon dioxide levels are now higher than they have been for at least 20 million years. This concentration of gas in the atmosphere has resulted in the earth's temperature rising. This process is what scientists call the Greenhouse Effect.
How will you cut traveller's CO2 emissions by 25%?
We'll use less power on our trains, carry more travellers on each train, and get more electricity from greener suppliers with lower emissions.
Why are Eurostar bothering - what's in it for you?
We believe strongly that both businesses and individuals have a duty to play their part in tackling climate change. If we all act, then together we can make a difference. By choosing to take Eurostar to London from Paris, you emit 10 x less CO2 than you would do by flying - that's the difference between a double decker bus full of CO2, or a mini. Your choice.
What does carbon neutral mean?
Many different organisations choose to use this expression in different ways. In our case carbon neutral means reducing the emissions from an activity (like a train journey) where possible, and 'offsetting' (we'll come to that in a minute!) the remainder to make a contribution towards neutralising the negative impact of the CO2 that is emitted. Over the next five years, Eurostar is cutting CO2 emissions per traveller journey by 25% and neutralising the impact of the remaining CO2 by investing in carefully selected 'offset' schemes. All direct journeys with Eurostar will be carbon neutral from November 14th 2007. Travellers using other rail services to connect with Eurostar will still be doing their bit and using a greener form of transport.
What is offsetting?
Offsetting schemes allow people or companies to partially neutralise their own carbon dioxide emissions by financially supporting projects that reduce carbon dioxide emissions elsewhere. Many companies ask their customers to pay extra to offset their emissions. Eurostar won't - we believe that our emissions are our responsibility.
I'm curious - where can I find out more?
This is a big and complex issue, and there are lots of websites and newspaper articles you could read. This isn't an exhaustive list, but these are some people we think are doing good things on climate change:
Friends of the Earth makes life better for people by inspiring solutions to environmental problems. It is one of the UK's most influential environmental campaigning organisations. Climate change is a top priority and their Big Ask climate campaign has successfully campaigned for a new climate change law.
Forum for the Future is a sustainable development charity that works with forward-looking organisations in business and the public sector to find practical ways to build a future that is environmentally viable, socially just and economically prosperous. We'll be working with them to ensure that we keep improving our environmental and social performance well into the future.
Marks & Spencers recently launched their Plan A - so called because there is no Plan B - a 100 point plan to tackle the environmental impact of their business. We're fans of what they're doing, and we think you will be interested too.
Transport 2000 are an independent organisation who campaign for sustainable transport solutions. They aim to reduce the environmental and social impact of transport.
