| For those of you unfamiliar with the term "carbon | | | | metric tonnes of CO² (0.065 UK tons). |
| footprint" and its implications or are unsure what is | | | | Energy efficiency is directly related to carbon dioxide |
| meant by "fair-trade" here is a brief explanation. | | | | emissions, rail would appear to be significantly more |
| Carbon footprint is defined by the UK carbon trust as | | | | energy efficient then other transport modes, with the |
| being: " ..the total set of GHG (greenhouse gas) | | | | exception of shipping, aviation being the worst |
| emissions caused directly or indirectly by an individual | | | | offender by far. Global emissions from varying |
| organization, event or product." In the context of this | | | | transport modes account for approximately 23% of |
| article it applies specifically to carbon emissions given | | | | the total world CO² output according to "Japan |
| out by various transport modes during their endeavors | | | | Automobile Manufacturers Association." |
| to deliver commodities from A to B. | | | | The conclusions from these combined figures are that |
| And what is the significance? | | | | huge cuts need to be made to counter the rapid |
| Carbon dioxide "..is (at present) the principal | | | | increase in trade volumes. |
| greenhouse gas" and the biggest cause of global | | | | There is, however, a glimmer of hope on the horizon |
| warming which is the process that raises the air | | | | for the transport industry in the shape of bio fuels. Billy |
| temperature in the lower atmosphere due to heat | | | | Glover, Boeings chief environmental strategist feels |
| trapped by greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, | | | | that bio fuels from algae, jatropha, camelina, halophytes |
| methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbon (more | | | | and palm oil will become tomorrows answer to |
| commonly known as cfc's). | | | | aviation fuel. Continental airlines have already |
| The implications are devastating to life on earth. | | | | conducted test flights using a mix of traditional based |
| Fair trade is defined in Wikipedia as an " ..organized | | | | fuel with a mix of jatropha and 6% algae with |
| social movement and market based approach that | | | | satisfactory results. The initial aim is for a 60% lowering |
| aims to help developing countries and promote | | | | of carbon emissions. |
| sustainability". The movement advocates the payment | | | | Of course each solution has its own problems, cost is |
| of a "fair price" as well as social and environmental | | | | initially a problem along with the possibility of huge |
| standards in areas related to production . It focuses in | | | | areas of land being required for some of the crops |
| particular on exports from developing countries to | | | | mentioned. Glover says that "..the optimists say, to |
| developed countries most notably coffee, cocoa, | | | | supply the entire world with aviation fuel would |
| sugar, tea, flowers, wine, fresh fruit, bananas, chocolate | | | | perhaps need an area the size of Belgium." The |
| and handy crafts. In 2007 fair-trade certified sales | | | | projected time scales are however, way off, with |
| heavily supported by supermarkets amounted to | | | | 2025-2050 being banded around and as Professor |
| approx. $3.62 billion (£2.39 billion) world wide a | | | | John Schellnhuber, director of the Potsdam institute on |
| 47% year to year increase. Fairtrade produces | | | | climate change research, states "..we have maybe got |
| generally account for 1-20% of all sales in their product | | | | 20 years" referring to the point of no return for carbon |
| category in Europe and North America. In 2003 "Cato | | | | emissions. |
| industries" vice president for research Brink Lindsey | | | | The worst case scenario for global warming has been |
| referred to fairtrade as "..well intentioned interventions | | | | put forward by professor James Lovelock, a leading |
| scheme... doomed to end in failure." Fair trade, | | | | climate change scientist: "Global warming is irreversible |
| according to Lindsay, is a misguided attempt to make | | | | and billions of people will die over the next century." |
| up for market failures in which one failed pricing | | | | Claiming that by 2100 "..much of the tropical land mass |
| structure is replaced with another. This is rather harsh, | | | | will become scrub and desert." This synopsis takes into |
| the principles of supply and demand which ultimately | | | | account the release of huge reservoirs of methane, |
| govern price still apply and if demand diminishes the | | | | presently trapped below the tundra surface. Methane |
| price will ultimately reflect this. People will only pay | | | | is 72x more effective at holding temperature than |
| higher prices for a commodity out of choice whilst their | | | | carbon dioxide. He continues to say that the only place |
| budget can afford to do so. | | | | where humans will be able to survive will be the arctic. |
| Having given a brief interpretation of the factions | | | | Dr. Myles Allen, head of the climatic dynamics group at |
| involved you may well ask " what is the connection | | | | Oxford University's physics department said: "People |
| between carbon footprints, global finances and | | | | will be killed by climatic change this century, arguably, |
| fair-trade?" | | | | this has started already with the 2003 heat wave in |
| To explain this we need to look a little deeper. Let's | | | | Europe which killed 20,000-35,000 people including |
| look at the relative carbon footprints of the transport | | | | 4,000 people in the UK." |
| industry. All vehicles are guilty of carbon pollution, but | | | | John Church from the centre for Australian weather |
| who are the worst offenders? | | | | and climate research when asked about global |
| Aviation. | | | | warming stated that "..no matter the exact amount of |
| The European commission said that greenhouse gas | | | | sea level rise due to global warming the message |
| emissions from aviation has increases by 87% since | | | | presented is loud and clear, even at the lowest levels |
| 1990. Boeing, the aircraft company, says that a Boeing | | | | of projected sea level rises in this century mean that |
| 747 burns about 5 gallons of fuel per mile. Paul Charles, | | | | 10% of the world's current population will be hit by rising |
| a Virgin Atlantic spokesman, says CO² emissions | | | | seas." |
| on a normal flight are generally three times the fuel | | | | George Monbiot an environmentalist states that we |
| burned. For example: A flight from Jorge | | | | need to cut carbon emissions by 90%, this includes a |
| Chávez international airport in Peru to | | | | complete moratorium on further flights and a great |
| Heathrow airport London UK a trip of 6314 miles | | | | reduction in the number of current flights. |
| (10,162 km) uses approx. 31,570 gallons of aviation fuel | | | | Now let's turn our attention to fair trade. |
| which in turn produces 358 tons (UK) of CO², a | | | | What a wonderful idea but at what cost? The |
| staggering amount. | | | | principles of fair trade already discussed have touched |
| Shipping. | | | | the compassionate nerve of the nation and the |
| John Vidal, environmental editor of the Guardian states | | | | supermarkets are exploiting it for all its worth. It's a |
| that figures from the oil giant BP and researchers at | | | | shame that with every "fair-trade" item they don't put |
| the institute for physic and atmosphere in Wessing, | | | | a "carbon footprint" label. |
| Germany reveal that annual emissions from shipping | | | | In a recent poll carried out by CBS, 78% of all |
| range between 600 - 800 million tonnes of carbon | | | | respondents said that they "..think it is necessary to |
| dioxide. This is nearly double Britain's total emissions | | | | take steps to counter the effects of global warming |
| and more than all the African countries combined. | | | | right away". Half of the 1,000 people interviewed by |
| However, as shipping conveys 90% of the world's | | | | "Populous" in research for "Walkers" the crisp |
| goods, each item carried therefore has a | | | | manufacturers, said they were more likely to buy a |
| proportionately smaller carbon footprint. Although this is | | | | product with a carbon label. But surely, and here lies |
| true it still shy's away from the point that giant | | | | the dilemma, the two labels "fair trade" and "carbon |
| container ships like the "Emma Maersic" which burns | | | | footprint" are contradictory. To comply with fair-trade, |
| 350 tons of fuel a day and according to an article | | | | helping third world nations, you have to create millions |
| dated February 13th in the Guardian titled "Global | | | | of tons of destructive greenhouse gasses. For |
| CO² Emissions" states that a ship of this size | | | | example, to bring fair-trade flowers to UK |
| "...can emit more than 300,000 tonnes of CO² a | | | | supermarkets from Kenya using Nairobi airport creates |
| year - equivalent to a medium-sized coal power | | | | a carbon footprint of approx. 167.508 tonnes (this is |
| station." So although each item carried might well have | | | | made up of 0.118 tonnes for two 55 mile road journeys, |
| a tiny individual footprint, as a whole the ship has a | | | | to and from the airport, plus 167.29 tonnes from the air |
| colossal carbon footprint. | | | | miles) as opposed to the mere 0.118 tonnes to bring |
| Rail. | | | | UK flowers from UK local growers located in a 55 mile |
| Dirk Flege, managing director of the pro-rail alliance said | | | | radius. |
| that "If we want to maintain mobility then there will be | | | | So, as human beings have always regarded choice as |
| no way around a shift to the railways." Freight trains | | | | a fundamental requirement for freedom and lifestyle, |
| produce only a quarter of the CO² emitted by | | | | what choice are you going to make when the chips |
| trucks on a ton for ton basis and for personal | | | | are really down? |
| transport CO² emissions are reduced by (at | | | | On the one hand, support third world economies to |
| least) half when switching from cars to the railways, | | | | bring them fair recompense for what they do but at |
| again based on passengers carried, says the pro-rail | | | | the expense of the local markets and home grown |
| alliance. Rail at present has 12% of the UK surface | | | | industries, or support local business and radically cut |
| freight market, and to give some idea of the scale of | | | | carbon emission therefore helping to save the planet |
| rail transport "..an aggregate freight train can carry as | | | | and its natural beauty for future generations. The |
| much freight as 120 HGV lorries" according to Newark | | | | incredibly short sighted approach typified by the |
| Rail 2008. Rail overall produces 1.7% of the total UK | | | | supermarket chains who have jumped on the "fair |
| emissions of Carbon dioxide according to Carbon | | | | trade" bandwagon for quick profit and a view to |
| Pathways DfT 2008. | | | | eliminating their competition must be seen for what it is, |
| Road. | | | | a cheap trick that's ultimately at our expense. They |
| Road transport alone accounts for 26% of all UK | | | | have already put nails in the coffins of local butchers, |
| CO² emissions . The rail freight association has | | | | greengrocers, newsagents and florists, all of whom are |
| calculated that the CO² emissions of carrying | | | | not entirely blameless in this scenario, selling |
| freight by heavy goods vehicles (HGV's) is 180g per | | | | merchandise manufactured or grown principally in |
| kilometre. There are of course so many variables | | | | China, South America and Africa. None of us are |
| effecting this figure including horse power, age of | | | | exempt we all need to take responsibility for our |
| vehicle, congestion , tons of cargo etc. The department | | | | actions. |
| of transport estimates for a lorry carrying 20 tonnes, | | | | There are some very tough and uncomfortable |
| averaging 50 m.p.h. that it produces 670g per kilometre | | | | decisions ahead for human beings, the choice is of |
| or 1078g per mile. A HGV trip from Boston, Lincolnshire | | | | course yours. |
| to Nottingham, a distance of 55 miles creates 0.059 | | | | So it all boils down to "what really matters to you? |