Aaron W Jones | Carbon Footprint

Aaron Jones | Personal Carbon Statement

Carbon Statement

I acknowledge that the scientific consensus regarding the existence of climate change and the substantial contribution the human contribution is now making to this via our greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, I recognize the scale of the climate emergency posed by our current emissions levels and our individual responsibility to mitigate the impact of climate change. I also recognize the need for institutional changes and our responsibility as citizens and scientists to highlight the issue to our elected representatives.

Professional Action
Personal Commitments
Lifetime Flight Estimate
Emissions of Household Items
2018 Statement

Last Updated: Jan 2023

Professional Action

I have been working with facilities and Electrical Engineering to proposal a Renewable Microgrid for the Gingin Gravity Precinct.

We have been successful in raising 50% of the required funds (approximately 1M AUD) and are working towards finalizing the project.

The work will have a positive impact on the Gravity Discovery Center (a not-for-profit public outreach facility) along with an array of telescopes of the gravitational wave detector prototype. This prototyping work will hopefully enable future gravitational wave detectors, such as the Einstein Telescope and Cosmic Explorer to be renewable powered.

UWA have recognized this work as linking to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and marked this on my staff profile.

Personal Commitments & Emissions Estimate

Pie diagram with 2018 carbon emmissions estimate breakdown, excluding flights.

Key Commitments:

To live car free (Saves ∼3.8 tn / year in direct and ∼1.7 tn/year in manufacturing emissions assuming a medium sized car driving 10,000 km / year and written off after 10 years).
Work towards carbon offsetting my flights.
Advocate for climate action consistent with the science.
To eat a low meat diet (saves approximately 0.9 tn/year).
To purchase non-essential furniture either second-hand or live without (saves 0.8 tn / year).
Drink soy milk (saves approximately 0.2 tn/year).

These actions save 7.4 Tn / year of emissions (~25 Tn including offsets). My residual emissions are approximately 6.3 Tn/year excluding flights. This is an increase of 3.6 Tn/year from my 2018 estimate when I lived in the UK. Causes include: increased costs of food in Australia & a lack of suitable renewable energy providers in West Australia.

Lifetime Flight Estimate

Pie diagram with 2018 carbon emmissions estimate breakdown

The graph shows an estimate of my lifetime carbon footprint from flying, inspired by Sean Leavey's similar plot and script.

Business travel accounts for 16 Tn, while personal travel accounts for 19 Tn. I have been able to offset 5 Tn of personal travel and 700 kg of business travel. As of Jan '23 I have started regular contributions to Treedom to work towards reducing my carbon debt. You can see my progress here.

Notes: The CO2 emissions are taken from GoClimateNeutral API.