‘Climate change isn’t someone else’s problem, we all have to play our part. It’s time for us all to go on a carbon diet, and this book shows you how.’
Charles Dunstone (CEO of Carphone Warehouse and a founding partner in The Climate Group’s partnership to promote climate change solutions)

‘As this admirable guide demonstrates so clearly, a low-carbon lifestyle can be elegant, fun, rewarding and save us all a lot of money - as well as the planet!’
Jonathon Porritt, CBE (Founder Director of Forum for the Future and author of Capitalism as if the World Matters)

Climate change is the greatest challenge facing humanity: drastic reduction of carbon emissions is vital if we are to avoid a catastrophe that devastates large parts of the world. Governments and businesses have been slow to act and individuals now need to take the lead.

The Earth can absorb no more than 3 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year for every person on the planet if we are to keep temperature and rainfall change within tolerable limits. Yet from cars and holiday flights to household appliances and the food on our plates, Western consumer lifestyles leave each of us responsible for over 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year - four times what the Earth can handle.

Individual action is essential if we want to avoid climate chaos. How to Live a Low-Carbon Life shows how easy it is to take responsibility, providing the first comprehensive, one-stop reference guide to calculating your CO2 emissions and reducing them to a sustainable 3 tonnes a year.

'Goodall's well-rounded view of the green world also encompasses the bigger-picture issues that governments and societies face. So if you're fed up with reading about all the little things you can do for the planet and fancy getting stuck into some proper green living, this is the book for you.' Your Environment (Environment Agency UK)

About the author(s)

Chris Goodall is chair of telecommunications software company Dynmark International, a member of the UK Competition Commission and Utilities Appeal
Panel, and the Green Party’s Parliamentary Candidate for Oxford West and Abingdon. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School and is a former director of Which? Ltd.

Contents

Introduction: Getting from 12½ Tonnes to 3 Tonnes of Carbon Dioxide per Person * The Extraordinary Cheapness of Fossil Fuels * The Scope for Government Action * The Inadequacy of Alternative Means of Reducing Emissions * No One Else Is Doing Much, So You'd Better Do Something Yourself * How Our Lives Generate Emissions and What We Can Do about It * Home Heating * Water Heating and Cooking * Lighting * Household Appliances * Car Travel * Public Transport * Air Travel * Food * Other Indirect Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions * Domestic Use of Renewable Energy * Cancelling Out Emissions * Conclusions * Afterword * Appendix: Sources of the Main Averages