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Our Carbon Footprint
Glenisk is commited to measure, report, reduce, recycle and arrange for quality offsets.
The biggest threat to our environment is climate change. Carbon dioxide, methane and other “greenhouse gases” act like a blanket over the Earth, playing havoc with weather and ecosystems all over the world. Fine if you want to grow figs in Scotland; terrible for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, or the hundreds of millions of people that could be drowned under an ex-ice cap. (Have you seen Al Gore’s Oscar winning documentary, An Inconvenient Truth?)
The Atlantic Conveyor, which powers the Gulf Stream and hence stops Dublin freezing solid in the winter, could shut down completely if icebergs the size of countries continue to break away from the Antarctic coast. The summer Arctic may be completely ice-free in less than 30 years, transforming it from a global air conditioning system into a giant heater.
We are in the middle of the worst mass extinction event in history. Since 1975 we have lost a third of all the species on our planet. If we don’t do a lot, right now, to prevent climate change, then we could be facing a sudden and catastrophic collapse of the global ecosystem. The world will survive; human civilisation and most animals may not.
A recent study found that Ireland’s ‘footprint’ is bigger than it should be*, and it’s growing, so it's important that all individuals, organisations and manufacturers take active steps to reduce it.
How are we at Glenisk are taking steps to reduce our Carbon Footprint?
- Measure, report, reduce and use quality offsets. We have begun work with Eco-Securities to measure our carbon footprint and will be publishing their findings, as well as our reducing scheme. Watch our website for more details.
- Working with organic farmers: studies * show that organic agriculture reduces greenhouse gasses.(Soil Assoc)
- Using sustainable energy from green energy supplier Airtricity.
- Performing feasibility studies for new wind turbines
- Using waste water efficiencies through our reed beds.
- Converting our vehicles to bio-fuel.
We endeavour to take our place as a Climate Leader in Ireland.
*(A preliminary study, based on four criteria, i.e. fossil fuels, built up land, food and forestry, concluded that Ireland’s “ecological footprint” is at least one and one quarter times its ideal size and is growing.) ENFO, Information on the Environment, www.enfo.ie