FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Global warming
Carbon offsetting
Calculating CO2 emissions
Projects
Who and what is Climat Mundi?
Global warming
What’s the difference between weather and climate?
Weather is what is forecast today or tomorrow. Weather conditions change on a daily basis as we can see from the forecast or by looking out of the window. The temperature can also vary daily by a few degrees more or less without posing any problem (well, almost).
Climate refers to two different things depending on who is talking about it:
For vacationers, and in geography textbooks, climate refers to the general temperature and rainfall in a given area depending on latitude, surrounding landscape, nearness to the sea, etc. Tourists who have vacationed both in Brittany and on the Côte d’Azur can easily tell the difference between an oceanic and a Mediterranean climate. This is not the sort of climate we are referring to here.
For meteorologists climate refers to something entirely different: it is the study of average temperatures and rainfall, as well as frequency of extreme weather phenomena in a given area over the last thirty years. For meteorologists an extreme variation in temperature from one year to the next (for example the heat wave in 2003) is not necessarily a sign of global warming because it could be an isolated phenomenon. When we talk about the temperature in France having increased by 1°C since 1900, it refers to the average temperature over the last 30 years being 1°C higher than the average temperature between 1870 and 1900. Climate science is an attempt to understand the nature of weather data, which is constantly changing all over the world, and how weather is affected in the long term by broader tendencies.
You only mention CO2. What about the other greenhouse gases?
It is simpler just to talk about CO2, but of course there are the other greenhouse gases such as methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), the hydro fluorocarbons (HFC), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). We include them in our calculations as “CO2 equivalents”. Thus 1 ton of methane (whose heat-trapping qualities are 20 times more powerful than those of CO2) is equivalent to 20 tons of CO2. However, we have chosen to simplify even further on this website and only talk about CO2.
What part does the ozone layer play?
Contrary to what a lot of people think, none! ‘Good’ and ‘bad’ ozone exist (like good and bad cholesterol) but neither plays any part in global warming.
The ‘good’ ozone is to be found 15 km above our heads in the famous ozone layer. This layer is permanent and protects us from harmful ultra violet rays emanating from the sun. The hole in the ozone is produced by chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), chloride gases which up until 1987 were used in aerosol cans and refrigerating systems. The manufacture of CFCs has virtually been discontinued, but those already released into the atmosphere before 1987 are still floating slowly upwards into the stratosphere and destroying the ozone layer.
When it is hot in summer we talk about ‘air pollution peaks’ or ‘ozone peaks’ which we try to reduce by lowering the speed limit. This ‘bad’ ozone is a ‘secondary’ pollutant formed by the sun’s action on other pollutants emanating mainly from car and lorry exhaust. It is toxic and can produce unpleasant symptoms such as irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, headaches and breathlessness in some people. This ozone does not remain in the atmosphere, and decomposes as soon as the surface weather changes.
What do the scientists say?
The UN appointed an international group of scientists (the IPCC) to report every 4-5 years on their findings relating to global warming.
In their latest report dating from 2001 the scientists make the following observations and predictions:
Observations:
- « The Earth's climate system has demonstrably changed on both global and regional scales since the pre-industrial era ».
- « The most of warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities ».
- « Observed changes in regional climate have affected many physical and biological systems ».
Predictions:
- «Carbon dioxide concentrations, globally averaged surface temperature, and sea level are projected to increase under all [...] emissions scenarios during the 21st century ».
For more information on global warming click here.
Carbon offsetting
Isn’t it just an easy way of having a clear conscience?
No, it is an example of responsible behaviour in the same way taking your trash with you after a picnic or generally cleaning up after yourself is considered responsible behaviour. In this case the accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere threatens the well-being of our planet, and neutralising our impact on the climate by offsetting our CO2 emissions is the equivalent of cleaning up after ourselves.
Shouldn’t government or industry be in charge of reducing CO2 emissions?
Yes and no. Given the scale of the problem everyone should try to do what they can. Furthermore, since 1990 industrial emissions of CO2 have decreased while those of individuals have increased (heating, transport etc.). In addition, industry and government tend to be influenced by public opinion and not the other way round. Industry will adapt to the demands of consumers, and politicians will adopt a cause if it is popular with voters. So it is up to each one of us to force industry and government to act, and not the other way round.
Aren’t CO2 emissions unavoidable?
Yes, in our modern world. We cannot avoid producing CO2 emissions when we fly, drive our cars, heat our houses and workplaces. This is why carbon offsetting makes so much sense, because it enables us to neutralise the impact of the emissions we cannot avoid producing.
Given the scale of the problem what’s the point of offsetting a few tons of CO2?
Global warming poses a particularly difficult problem because CO2 is not produced by a few major emitters who can be identified and dealt with, but by millions of minor ones. Sixty per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in France come from cars (20%), home and office heating (20%) and agriculture (20%).
The biggest difficulty is the number of minor emitters. Because our individual emissions are so small in comparison with our total emissions, it is difficult to convince people to take action, especially if other people appear to be doing nothing. And yet if no one takes action global temperatures will continue to rise. This is precisely why we founded Climat Mundi. To offer everyone a simple, quick, and efficient way of reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.
Carbon offsetting as a way of reducing CO2 emissions is rapidly being adopted by many first world countries, and more and more individuals, businesses and groups are using offsetting as a way of neutralising their impact on the climate, or becoming ‘CO2 neutral’.
What is more, by offsetting our emissions and telling people about it, we encourage others to use this new way of combating global warming and we multiply the impact of our own actions!
Will it solve the problem of global warming?
No it will not. Therefore the sooner we reduce the amount of CO2 we emit into the atmosphere the better (find out more). Carbon offsetting constitutes only part of the solution, and as such is ‘the second best option’. When all possible direct reductions in CO2 emissions have been exhausted, carbon offsetting is an excellent way of neutralising the impact of emissions that are impossible to reduce or cannot be immediately or affordably reduced.
What connection if any is there to the Kyoto Protocol?
Kyoto Protocol signatories are obliged to reduce emissions whereas offsetting is voluntary.
The Kyoto Protocol imposes compulsory emissions reductions (mainly CO2) on 53 industrialised nations. The majority of these nations (including France) assign these compulsory reductions to some of the biggest emitters in industry (such as thermal power stations, refineries, cemeteries, municipal power stations) who have fixed annual CO2 emissions quotas ( referred to as ‘CO2 quotas’ or occasionally, and improperly, ‘pollution rights’). In France there are 1,140 industries like this. If an industry exceeds its yearly CO2 quota it has two possible courses of action: either it trades quotas with another industry that has not exceeded its quota (this is known as CO2 quota trading) or it purchases CO2 reductions from a project somewhere in the world whose aim is to reduce CO2 emissions. In both cases the CO2 reductions are sold to a party who is obliged to purchase them.
Carbon offsetting on the other hand is a voluntary act whereby a business, local group or individual, who is under no such obligation, purchases CO2 reductions to offset their emissions.
Does it give me ‘pollution rights’?
No it does not. Moreover we find the term ‘pollution rights’ unhelpful and ambiguous.
We may not know it but with respect to CO2 and the other greenhouse gases we already have ‘pollutions rights’. No one prevents us from driving our air-conditioned cars, buying four-by-fours, flying to the other side of the world, eating strawberries in winter and turning the heating full on at home and in the workplace. Indeed, we are making full use of these ‘rights’ because CO2 emissions associated with transport, accommodation, the workplace, and agriculture have increased the most since 1990!
The CO2 quotas imposed on the biggest emitters (see previous FAQ), which are sometimes referred to as ‘pollution rights’, are designed as a disincentive not as an incentive to pollute! Giving ‘pollution rights’ to industry is sometimes held up as immoral, yet we feel this is an incorrect interpretation of what is in fact a highly moral requirement imposed on industry with the aim of reducing emissions!
Far from giving us ‘pollution rights’ (which we already have as we pointed out earlier) carbon offsetting is a way of offsetting our CO2 emissions by paying someone else to reduce theirs.
Does it count as a donation?
No. A donation is a disinterested contribution to a cause for which we are not responsible. When we offset our CO2 emissions we are paying someone else to reduce the CO2 emissions for which we are responsible. The voluntary nature of this payment does not make it a donation.
Is it tax-deductible?
Unfortunately not!
Calculating CO2 emissions
How do you calculate flight emissions?
Various factors are taken into consideration when calculating flight emissions and their impact on the environment. The following are the main ones:
- The type of aeroplane, how much fuel it uses, the number of seats it has and how many are first class (first class seats take up more room than economy seats, and the more there are the fewer passengers the aeroplane carries).
- The aeroplane’s occupancy rate: when a plane is full emissions per passenger work out at less than when it is three-quarters empty.
- Cargo: aeroplanes always carry cargo which varies in weight.
- Queuing for take-off, or more importantly (because it uses more fuel) circling above airports waiting to land, the choice of air routes, and air traffic control regulations at each airport. These factors can make a difference of between 6 -12% on fuel consumption per flight.
- Wind: transatlantic flights going west into the wind use more fuel than flights going east with the wind behind them.
- Duration of flight: more fuel is used during take offs and landings so short-haul flights use more fuel per km than long-haul flights.
- Impact on the environment and other effects of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the combustion of kerosene:
- Depending on a plane’s altitude certain gases react differently in the atmosphere. Thus for example depending on whether they are released at high or low altitudes nitrous oxides (N2O) affect the chemistry of ozone (itself a greenhouse gas) in different ways. (They can also reduce methane concentrations which actually reduces global warming.)
- Certain gases evaporate quickly while others remain concentrated in the plane’s flight path. This will impact differently on any given area (northern hemisphere) depending on how frequently air routes are used.
- Aeroplanes produce white vapour trails which enhance the formation of cirrus clouds which cause the earth’s surface temperature to rise.
- All these factors can multiply a plane’s flight emissions by 2.7
In order to be able to calculate the exact greenhouse gas emissions per passenger per flight we would need to know the type of aeroplane, its occupancy rate, its cargo weight, its waiting times for take-off and landing from which airports, etc. For obvious reasons this is too ambitious for a website like ours, so we have chosen to use the Bilan Carbone® (Carbon Count) used by the Ademe (L’Agence de l’environment et control d’energie = Agency of Environment and Energy Control) Link to Ademe Carbon Count.
How do you calculate car and motorcycle emissions?
We use the same method as the Ademe (see above).
The calculation for car emissions takes into account:
- Emissions linked to a car’s manufacture.
- Emissions linked to fuel-refining and transport of fuel to petrol station.
- Emissions linked to fuel combustion in car’s engine.
These emissions are about 50% higher than emissions the manufacturer’s stated emissions:
- 18% come from the car’s manufacture;
- 15% come from fuel-refining and transport of fuel;
- 17% come from car’s real fuel consumption i.e. not according to figures provided by UTAC (Union Technique de l’Automobile du Motocycle et du Cycle), which do not take into account cold starting, air-conditioning, acceleration, traffic jams etc.
The calculation for motorcycle emissions comes from a study carried out by the Ademe. See Ademe study in PDF format.
How do you calculate home emissions?
The data for CO2 emissions is based on calculations made by the Ademe and the CEREN (Centre d'études et de recherches économiques sur l'énergie = Research Centre for Economic Studies of Energy) according to size, heating system, age, usage of accommodation.
How do you calculate emissions for personal packs?
The packs are calculated on the basis of 9 tonnes of CO2 emissions per person per year. This figure corresponds to France’s total emissions of greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N20, HFC, PFC, SF6) expressed as CO2 equivalents and divided by number of inhabitants.
We have chosen to take into account all the greenhouse gases and not just CO2 because our everyday activities also contribute to their release into the atmosphere: the CH4 produced by the meat we consume and our waste (livestock farming and landfill sites); the N2O that comes from the cereals and vegetables we eat (fertilisers); the HFC gases our old refrigerators give off…
NB: The figure 6.7 tons of CO2 per person per year in France is sometimes mentioned in the media, but this only takes into account CO2 emissions and not the other greenhouse gases.
Projects
How can I be sure my money is really being used to fund projects?
We have employed an independent auditor to certify annually that the amount of CO2 reductions we have funded corresponds to the amount in tons we have offset for our customers. The results of the audit will be available annually online.
Will I need to make alterations to my car, my house or my office?
No. And this is the good thing about CO2 offsetting. The necessary ‘alterations’ will be carried out elsewhere without any need for you to make any yourself to your car or your home.
Can I choose which projects I fund?
No. Climat Mundi funds a number of projects and then pools the CO2 reductions before re-distributing them. It is therefore impracticable for you to choose the projects you wish to fund or for us to tell you which projects we will fund with the reductions you have purchased. However, if enough customers show an interest in this option we will look into the possibilities. While our project is in its initial stages we prefer to use this pooling system. However, if your company wishes to offset large quantities of CO2 emissions, the best thing would be for you to contact us so we can discuss your individual case.
Do you fund reforestation projects?
No. We have decided not to for the time being for several reasons. Despite the emotional appeal of re-forestation projects, their low cost, and the benefits associated with the natural areas they provide for local communities, the net level of CO2 emissions reductions they generate is far from clear.
Technically speaking trees store CO2 while they are growing. However when they die or burn down in a forest fire, say, this CO2 is re-released into the atmosphere. It is therefore difficult to be 100% certain that the CO2 stored in a tree will not one day be re-released. Moreover, for this type of project to be viable forests must be managed and conserved properly for at least 100 years, which seems a long time to have to wait for a return on an environmental ‘investment’! Furthermore, when it comes to planting forests in developing countries we cannot guarantee that the owners who sell their land for re-forestation will not then proceed to cut down trees elsewhere to regain land.
Scientifically speaking our knowledge of the CO2 cycle in plant biomass is still incomplete, and we cannot be certain that forests will not become net emitters of CO2 in case of climatic stress as they did during the 2003 drought. Meaning that as well as ceasing to store CO2, trees might re-release it into the atmosphere. Similarly, depending on where trees are planted the cover their vegetation provides can affect the amount of solar rays reflected back into space off the earth’s surface (the albedo) which in turn can enhance the greenhouse effect. For these and other reasons agricultural and re-forestation projects are the subject of numerous scientific controversies in the relevant UN bodies, who are far from reaching a unanimous agreement.
Fundamentally we are of the opinion that the solution to the problem of climate change can only come from a change in our attitudes and way of life. We do not believe planting trees will have much effect if we do not firstly reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. We prefer to promote energy-efficiency (using less energy and/or producing the same amount of energy using less fuel) and energy renewables. Viewed from this perspective planting trees as a way of offsetting CO2 emissions would appear to detract from the search for sustainable solutions.
We prefer to fund projects that do not involve storing greenhouse emissions but actually eliminating them. The renewable energy, energy efficiency and methane extraction and neutralisation projects we fund actually reduce or eliminate greenhouse gases thus providing guaranteed long term results.
Finally we would like to make it clear that whilst we do not consider re-forestation as a viable project in the context of CO2 offsetting we are in no way suggesting forests should not be planted! We are convinced that forests are an indispensable source of biodiversity, and are enormously beneficial to everyone, especially to local communities. Naturally we must combat de-forestation through re-forestation, though the best solution would be simply to stop deforestation!
Do you fund projects in France?
Not at the moment. Actually most of France’s electricity comes from nuclear power, which does not emit CO2, a much appreciated fact! Installing solar energy systems or wind farms in France would offset a minimum amount of CO2 in comparison to other countries like Germany, Australia, China, Denmark or India, where most of the electricity comes from burning coal. However, we are contemplating future projects in France that would prove as effective in offsetting CO2 as wind farms and solar energy systems do in other countries. We hope to be able to propose them to our customers in the near future.
What and who is Climat Mundi?
Is Climat Mundi an NGO or a company?
Climat Mundi is a company. There are several reasons for this.
Firstly, Climat Mundi’s aim is to encourage companies to offset their CO2 emissions. We feel we are in a stronger position as a company promoting the idea of carbon offsetting to other companies than if we were an NGO. We also anticipate that in the long run in order to be successful Climat Mundi will need funding, and it will be easier for a company to find this funding than for an NGO. Finally we consider that the service we offer (of calculating emissions, searching for projects to fund, and redistributing reductions) is available to the paying public if they choose to offset their CO2 emissions. We do not feel justified in living off donations as we would if we were an NGO.
Do you expect to make a profit?
Yes. We aim to make a living from Climat Mundi as well as developing it as a project. The money we receive for the reductions we offer on our website also allows us to fund and research projects that reduce CO2 emissions as well as identifying, selecting and certifying new projects, paying for CO2 reduction verifications, website maintenance, and commercial activities associated with identifying new customers, and promoting carbon offsetting. Like all small-medium-size businesses we re-capitalise some of our profits to ensure the continued existence and viability of our company.
Why the name Climat Mundi?
Mundus, in latin, can mean the world, the universe, life on earth, nations, or people. Climat Mundi refers to the earth’s climate, but also the everyday climate in which all of us live, and which we will pass on to our children. To us it conjures up the global nature of Earth’s climate as well as the fact that this climate belongs to each of us because it is the medium in which we live and breathe. If we take care of this climate we not only take care of the planet but of ourselves and of others. We also like the sound of the world Mundi, it has a radiant, optimistic ring to it which appeals to us!
Glossary
GIEC : Groupe intergouvernemental sur l’évolution du climat (= Intergovernmental Group on the Evolution of Climate Change)
IPCC : International Panel on Climate Change
Latest report by GIEC : Climatic Changes 2001 – Summary – Summary FAO Decision-makers
Kyoto Protocol : International protocol whereby signatories agree to reduce or limit their CO2 emissions. The protocol also establishes mechanisms whereby signatory States, in order to attain their quotas may reduce emissions outside their national territory.
