What humans can do to make contribution to influence global climate is to change ratios of greenhouse gas, aerosol (fine particulate matter) and cloud in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gas and aerosol will impact the amounts of inward solar radiation and outward infrared (thermal) radiation—part of Earth energy balance, which means global climate system can be interfered by controlling proportion and features of greenhouse gas and aerosol. Fossil fuels burning, one of human activities, is the biggest greenhouse gas source to release CO2 into the atmosphere. Influence on global warming by humans has been much worse than any nature movements such as solar activity and volcanic eruption since industrial age (1750).
CO2 concentration in the atmosphere has been increased from 280ppm in the industrial age to 379ppm in 2005, according to Climate Change 2007 Synthesis Report. However, the concentration was increased just about 20ppm during the 8000 years ahead of industrialization, less than 10ppm shift in decades even in a century, mostly likely to be caused by natural processes. Unfortunately, CO2 has been boomed in nearly 100ppm since 1750, which is mainly caused by deforestation and fossil fuels use in transportation, air-conditioning and cement production and so on.
International Campus Zhejiang University is always committed into pilot tasks to lead the green campus construction in China. This report will directly show International Campus carbon emission and carbon intensity through accounting on both indirect and indirect greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption to encourage more people to pay attention to climate change, and to join this green campaign.