1. Number of miles traveled by car #1 each year _____ , divide by average miles per gallon = _____ gallons of gas, multiplied by 22 lbs CO2/gallon of gas = _____ pounds of CO2 from car #1 (for this and all questions, enter number in right hand column).

1a. Repeat the above for additional cars and any other fueled motor vehicles, including motorcycles, boats, etc.

2. Number of miles of air travel per year (all household members) _____ , multiply by 0.9 lbs CO2/mile of air travel = _____ pounds of CO2

3. Number of miles traveled on mass transit (bus, train) _____ , multiply by 0.5 lbs CO2/mile of mass transit travel = _____ pounds of CO2

4. Number of miles traveled by taxi or limo _____ , multiply by 1.5 lbs CO2/mile in taxi or limo = _____ pounds of CO2

For the following, look at household utility bills for the last 12 months:

5. Kilowatt hours of electricity used per year _____ , multiply by 1.5 pounds of CO2/kilowatt-hour = _____ pounds of CO2

6. Gallons of heating oil per year _____ , multiply by 22 lbs CO2/gallon of heating oil = _____ pounds CO2

7. Therms of natural gas per year _____ , multiply by 11 lbs CO2/therm = _____ pounds CO2

8. Gallons of propane or bottled gas per year _____ , multiply by 13 lbs CO2/gallon = _____ pounds of CO2

9. Add up the pounds of CO2 emitted by the household (sum everything in right column)

10. Divide the total (#9 above) by the number of people in household _____ = _____ pounds of CO2 emitted per person in one year

11. OPTIONAL: divide by 2000 pounds to get tons per person per year

HOW MUCH DO YOU CONTRIBUTE TO GLOBAL WARMING?

Compare your actual emissions to the 11,000 pound (5.4 tons) carbon "allowance" that would have us comply with the 1997 Kyoto protocol (see below).

One plane trip across the country (6,000 miles round-trip) generates 5,400 pounds of CO2 per traveler. That's half of your annual carbon "allowance" if you are Kyoto-compliant!

Compare your actual emissions to the 4,700 pounds (2.35 tons) per person that some scientists believe would really be needed in order to control global warming.

What is the largest contributor to your household carbon emissions? For many of us, it's the gallons of gas we use, a product of the number of miles we drive and our miles per gallon.

FACTS ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING AND CARBON DIOXIDE

The earth has warmed between 5 and 9 degrees Fahrenheit since the last Ice Age.

Most climate models predict that a doubling of atmospheric CO2 concentrations would raise global mean temperature from 3 to 8 degrees.

Natural sources emit 150 billion tons of carbon and absorb 154 billion tons. The 7.1 billion tons that humans add to the annual emissions is enough to tip the balance.

Pre-industrial atmospheric concentrations of CO2 were about 278 parts per million. Current concentrations are 356 parts per million. The most restrictive goals call for stabilizing CO2 concentrations at 450 parts per million.

1990 total CO2 emissions in the United States were 4,833 million tons.

The US, with only 5% of world population, produces 1/4 of world greenhouse gas emissions.

Roughly 35% of US CO2 emissions come from industry, 33% from transportation, 18% from residences, and 14% from the commercial sector.

SOLUTIONS TO GLOBAL WARMING

The US Kyoto pledge is to decrease CO2 emissions 7 percent from 1990 levels by the year 2012. This means lowering our total CO2 emissions to 4,495 million tons per year.

The US population in the year 2000 is about 274 million people. In order to be Kyoto-compliant today, the average American would have 16.4 tons of CO2 emissions per year.

About 1/3 of per capita CO2 emissions come from household decisions such as travel and utility use. The other 2/3 come from businesses and industries that supply us with goods and services. Our household carbon "allowance" is therefore 5.4 tons (11,000 lbs) per person per year.

Many scientists think we need emissions reductions of more than 60% from 1990 levels. At today's population this translates into a carbon "allowance" of 7.06 tons per person. Since 1/3 is expended at the household level, our household "allowance" would be 2.35 tons per person.

Clean energy technologies and increased fuel efficiency can help reduce CO2 emissions.

An average acre of fully stocked forest will remove 3.6 tons of carbon dioxide per acre per year. An average tree will remove 1 ton of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere over a 40 year period.

The US population is growing at about 2.7 million people per year. Population growth reduces our per capita carbon allowance and makes it more difficult to reduce overall CO2 emissions.

This worksheet produced in April, 2000 by Annie Faulkner, New England Coalition for Sustainable Population, 603-847-9798. Sources of information include: Jennifer McCullough's article "Taking Stock" in Yes Magazine Winter 1999-2000; American Forests website at www.americanforests.org.