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  Straits Times 13 Aug 07
I survived a low-carbon week - you can do it too
To stop global warming, each individual's carbon dioxide emissions cannot exceed 2 to 2.5 tonnes a year. At present, each Singaporean emits about 9 tonnes a year. Is it possible to live a zero- or low-carbon life here? Jessica Cheam finds out

RECENTLY, I embraced a new religion. For a week, I resolved to live by its strict doctrine. I'm not talking about some new cult, but the green movement that has gripped the world's attention lately.

Climate change needs no introduction. The 75 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) spewed into the atmosphere daily has been blamed for global warming.

Resolving to do my part, I embarked on living a 'carbon- neutral week' - that is, to live my life in such a way that it does not result in any CO2 emissions.

I first had to calculate my annual and weekly carbon footprint. The Singapore Environment Council (SEC) website, everydaysuperhero.sg , provides a list of calculators that convert utility bills and transport use into CO2 emissions.

Then, last week, I executed a low-carbon, energy-saving strategy I formulated from some top green websites online.

I made an extra effort to car-pool (I am a sinner/owner of a 1.6-litre car), took the bus on my assignments, walked to buy my groceries, used only reusable bags at the shops, had my own plastic container for take-away food, ate vegetarian, bought local products and carefully checked the labels on things I consumed.

I received intriguing reactions from people.

But nothing prepared me for the profound yet subtle change that took hold of the way I thought about everything.

For the first time, I reflected on how every single object is made. I started asking myself questions like: How much energy was used to produce it? Is it environmentally friendly? Can I recycle it?

I thought about the food I used to eat without a moment's thought. Where did it come from? What are the 'food miles' of this apple? (Food miles is a measure of the distance a food item travels from field to plate, which indicates the CO2 released during transport.)

The constant interaction of all these different elements daily made me realise what a difference we can all make if we think about our choices a little more.

The real challenge, I realised, was to get everyone on the same wavelength.

Acquiring a 'green conscience' doesn't happen overnight. Paving a green culture for an entire country will take even longer.

The other day, I had lunch with my colleagues and got laughed at for having a falafel (no meat) burger 'in the name of sustainability'. I was labelled 'tree-hugger', 'hippie', 'greenie', which I did not mind, but it only showed how people in the mainstream still view environmentally conscious people as an 'other' and a minority.

When I offered my own container for a take-away lunch last week, the canteen owner at the cash register did a double-take and exclaimed loudly in Mandarin: 'Wah! If only everyone is like you, I can save money and not buy so many plastic boxes.'

Truth is, being green and making money can go together.

During my low-carbon week, I saved money by being a vegetarian and buying local produce whenever I could. When I did drive, I took care not to floor my accelerator, and saved petrol.

At home, I switched off appliances usually in 'standby' mode, such as the TV, and had the fan spinning rather than the air-conditioner when I slept. When my utility bill arrives this month, I know I will be rewarded.

For all my efforts, I managed to reduce my weekly footprint from 179kg to 98kg. If I keep it up, my emissions for the year will drop from 9.1 tonnes to 5.3 tonnes. At the end of the week, I also donated $32 to www.carbonfootprint.com, to plant a tree in Kenya which will offset 750kg of my emissions in its lifetime. Keeping to my regime, and if I also pay for a new tree every 15 weeks, the target of 2.5 tonnes can be attained.

To be honest, short of offsetting one's emissions with trees, living a zero carbon life in Singapore is impossible.

But reducing it dramatically is not difficult. And the truth is, the more people get on board, the easier it will become for all.

Green advocate Howard Shaw, the SEC's executive director, agrees. He noted that awareness of carbon footprints in Singapore started only recently, but 'people are starting to see how everything is connected'.

'The big picture is really how we live our daily lives, and how this has a direct impact on what happens on this planet,' he said.

Anyone who wants to play a part should go to a climate change website, and start making lifestyle changes such as using public transport, and switching to energy-efficient appliances, he said.

When I met former United States vice-president Al Gore last week, he quoted an old proverb I found very apt: 'If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.'

The climate crisis requires us to go far, and quickly, he said. The question is, are we willing to go the distance?

Dos and don'ts of a low-carbon life
HERE are some tips on how to live a low-carbon life:
# Car-share or use more public transport.
# Turn off the switches on your wall sockets. Leaving them on even when your appliance is turned off consumes energy.
# Use energy-saving light bulbs, air-conditioners, refrigerators and other appliances.
# Don't drink bottled water. Tap water in Singapore is safe to drink, and this saves on emissions from making, delivering and recycling bottles.
# Eat local. Get your food and drink from local sources. The less 'food miles' your food has, the better.
# Try to eat less meat, especially red. Meat typically has higher emissions from its production process and food miles.
# Don't buy clothes from far-flung countries. They chalk up high emissions to get to you.
# Avoid goods and services that have unnecessary packaging.
# Reduce the number of flights you take. Note: Food miles is the distance food travels from field to plate, which contributes to carbon dioxide emissions.

Taking a flight? Plant some trees

TAKE these three steps to a carbon-free life:
# Calculate your carbon footprint with a reliable online calculator such as the Resurgence Carbon Calculator ( www.resurgence.org/carboncalculator ). Note that this is developed in Britain. The Singapore Environment Council (SEC) is developing a carbon calculator specifically for Singapore.
# Take steps to reduce your carbon emissions.
# Offset the rest of your carbon emissions.

WHAT IS CARBON OFFSETTING?

FEELING guilty about releasing tonnes of carbon dioxide on your flight from Singapore to London for your holidays? You might want to consider planting a couple of trees in Kenya or sponsoring a wind farm in Madagascar to compensate for the carbon dioxide emissions you produce.

The idea is that each tree, depending on its type, absorbs a certain amount of CO2 in its lifetime of 100 years. For that trip to London, for example, you can offset your CO2 emissions by paying roughly $60 to a carbon offset company to plant the number of required trees in a developing country.

This method has gained widespread popularity, often in Western countries which are promoting 'carbon-neutral' lifestyles.

However, public opinion on its effectiveness is divided. Critics say it is an excuse for people to continue with their polluting lifestyles and business practices. There is also the matter of how trustworthy are the companies which sell 'voluntary carbon credits' to individuals.

On the other hand, carbon offset advocates say it encourages international cooperation, creates jobs and aids reforestation efforts.

SEC executive director Howard Shaw said, most important, offset plans give people an idea of the cost of their actions. This can also be factored into business decisions worldwide.

Some carbon offset companies are genuine, and endorsed by organisations like the United Nations. Check the credentials of any firm you pay for carbon offsets.

Recently, alternative carbon offsetting projects have surfaced on the market. Swiss-based company myclimate.org, for example, funds solar greenhouses in the Himalayas, and wind farms in Madagascar.

Ultimately, carbon offsetting is but a start in an overall energy-saving strategy - and lifestyle change - to reduce your personal emissions.
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