Raida Taya

Carbon dioxide exchange- with individual carbon rations

Abstract

Burning fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, and the increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere leads to what we now call the greenhouse effect, which means an impact on the climate. It has been labeled with, for example more extreme weather in the world.

Another problem is that we are approaching peak oil, which some even claim that we have already achieved. Therefore, the world quickly shifting to a less oil dependent, while the need to manage to limit the impact on climate.

Emission trading between countries was one of the measures proposed in the context of

Kyoto Protocol to limit overall emissions of greenhouse gases in the world. After that, there have been a number of models, both at global and at the individual level, the rationing of carbon dioxide.

The purpose of this paper is to conceptually design a system for carbon dioxide rations from a user perspective and to show how a system might work in practice by showing how the interface could look to end users.

The work consists of three parts: A literature review on the subject of carbon rations and rations, a presentation of theoretically possible proposals for a system of carbon rations based on the individual level with an application to a concrete example and finally a hearing of the people in town about how they perceive such a system. I also made a number of illustrations to help make people understand how it could possibly look like.

Work has resulted in a simple system where a new authority is created with the task of assigning citizens carbon rations each year or month and where citizens can log on to their website to check balances, transactions, stored rations and so on. To illustrate the system, I applied it on a concrete example where individuals buy an overseas trip and after purchase will be able to see how the rations are deducted from their account.

The work has been demonstrated for a number of people in town to get some feedback with regard to the system itself as an idea but also what the people who were asked to think about the usefulness whether to order a journey but carbon rations as additional parameter. Total questioned 17 people, where a large majority understood what it was about and thought that carbon rationing is a good idea, even necessary. They also thought that it drew up the system was straightforward, clear and simple.