Concern about the impact of greenhouse emissions on the environment isn’t new – far from it. Jamiroquai has been singing about “emergency on planet earth” since the 90s, but like so many things, we wait until it’s too late to do anything about it. We bury our heads in the sand or think other people will take care of it.
I am guilty as charged. I run in the other direction when I see the Greenpeace person coming towards me and my use of the dryer on days when it’s too cold for the washing to dry outside is highly suspect, but I think, ‘hey, well I don’t drive’ so I can justify it. I am also toppled by an avalanche of green bags every time I open my kitchen cupboard, because I always forget to take them with me when I go shopping and I inevitably have to buy more.
On the other hand, my flatmate “Al Gore”, switches off all the appliances at the socket and is forever telling me off for putting things that could be recycled into the normal bin. We could all take a leaf out of his book (as long as it’s made from recycled paper that is).
But this is no laughing matter. Since the inception of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, the global carbon dioxide emissions have increased to a record 31.5 billion metric tons, which are 40% above the levels in 1990. The 2009 United Nations summit in Copenhagen, dubbed ‘Hopenhagen’, was considered to be the world’s last chance to decide on a concrete plan to reduce carbon emissions and stabilise the climate.
Many were disappointed with the outcome of Hopenhagen and considered it a failure, with only a limited number of countries out of the 192 who attended signing the ‘Copenhagen Accord’ agreement. Developing countries in particular said it fell way short of expectations, with Lumumba Di-Aping, Chief Negotiator for the G77 group of 130 developing countries demanding a temperature rise of no more than 1.5 degrees, because higher temperatures could mean the death of whole countries including Africa.
The Accord recognised the scientific consensus that temperatures must not rise above 1.5-2.0 degrees, however there was no actual commitment or plan put in place to achieve this. Additionally, the earlier 2050 goal of reducing carbon emissions by 80% was dropped from the agreement all together. Some say it was a vital first step, but Barrack Obama, whose country is responsible for the highest emissions in the world, concedes that the progress was not enough.
We need hope, as it creates a new vision for our future. However, if we don’t take affirmative action in the present, it will remain just that – hope. Unless we take action now, individually or collectively, we are facing environmental uncertainty of potentially alarming proportions that will greatly affect the day to day lives of generations to come.
So, it’s promising to see Impact Digital, a leading digital printer, setting the way by entering into a partnership with Carbon Conscious to plant thousands of trees to reduce their carbon footprint to zero.
So what makes Impact Digital leaders? Not only do they use the most advanced digital colour printing machines available, they have been committed to reducing energy by operating on solar power, solar hot water, rain water and energy efficient lighting since they moved to their new premises in 2008.
Their recent initiative with Carbon Conscious means that they will plant 4,000 Mallee Eucalypt trees in the Australian wheatbelt every 12 months. These trees will not only store carbon emissions over a 30 year period, but provide valuable environmental benefits such as helping to reduce the effects of soil erosion, salinity and wind erosion on farms, provide livestock protection and create habitats for Australian wildlife.
Tony Parker, General Manager of Impact Digital said, “Our decision to partner with Carbon Conscious was based on the fact that we wanted to work with an Australian company which produced Australian carbon credits which also offer tangible environmental and economic added value.”
Impact Digital’s website has a register of how many trees have been planted – to date their partnership with Carbon Conscious has resulted in 4,243 trees being planted in the Australian wheatbelt.
Impact Digital offer a complete service to those seeking high quality digital printing, including: annual reports, business reports, newsletters, presentations, brochures, business card and office stationery.
