The term ‘carbon footprint’ is just one of many sustainability buzzwords that we often cross paths with in our day-to-day lives, whether it’s through social media, online content, or at your place of work.
And the sticky fact about carbon footprints is that everybody has one. But what exactly does it mean, and what do you need to do about it?
Carbon footprint defined
Your carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gasses that you personally contribute to the environment through your daily activities. These could include using electricity in your home, driving your car, and even eating meat. Some natural activities are expected, like decomposition, ocean release, and respiration, but human activity (such as burning fossil fuels) is the primary offender.
A carbon footprint is typically measured in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent, or C02e. Knowing your carbon footprint is important, as it helps you understand how your actions impact the environment and contribute overall to climate change.
Why is knowing your carbon footprint important?
The consequence of our population’s combined carbon footprint is global warming, and that’s not good news for any inhabitants of planet Earth.
What is global warming?
Global warming refers to the long-term trend of rising average temperatures on Earth, primarily caused by the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These trap heat in the atmosphere and prevent it from escaping into space, causing the Earth to warm up. As temperatures rise, it can have a range of negative impacts, including:
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Melting glaciers and sea ice
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Rising sea levels
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More frequent and severe heat waves
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Droughts
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Extreme weather events
Global warming is one of the most pressing environmental issues facing our world today, and addressing it requires a collective effort and shift towards cleaner, renewable sources of energy.
If we want to mitigate the impact of global climate change, improve public health, boost the economy, and protect plant and animal diversity, putting our own carbon footprint under the microscope is vital.
Tips to reduce your carbon footprint
Not all is lost, and we can all help to protect the environment by making small changes in our day-to-day lives to reduce our carbon footprint.
Reduce the amount of energy you use
Perhaps the quickest win, there are lots of small changes you can make to save energy. You could turn off unnecessary lights more often, take shorter showers, wash your clothes at a lower temperature, and turn taps off when they’re not being used. You could also install smart meters to track your energy usage.
Eat fewer animal products
Did you know that meat and dairy products require a lot of land, water, and energy to produce? Additionally, animal-based products create a lot of greenhouse gases along the way, so there are plenty of benefits to adopting a plant-based diet.
Shop locally
Food shipped from overseas uses more resources than local produce, inherently resulting in more carbon emissions. Why not visit your local farmers market instead?
Travel smart
We all know that petrol and diesel cars are big contributors to greenhouse gases, but we still need to get around. So, what’s the solution? Despite using similar fueling methods, public transport is a more sustainable option, simply because more people can use it at one time.
Reduce your waste
How many different products do you use in any single day? How many of those come in non-recyclable, non-compostable packaging? It’d be difficult to count, but it’s safe to assume that the answer is a lot, and that each individual product will have its own carbon footprint. By reducing the amount of waste you generate, you could make a big difference.
Where do you start?
When it comes to reducing your carbon footprint, it’s important to remember that every little bit counts. Even small changes to your daily routine can make a big difference over time. To get started, it's helpful to first understand your individual carbon footprint. There are many online calculators that can help you determine your carbon footprint based on factors such as your energy usage, transportation habits, and diet.
Once you know your carbon footprint, you can start identifying areas where you can make changes to reduce your impact.
It's also important to consider how you can advocate for larger systemic changes, such as supporting policies that promote renewable energy and reduce emissions. While it can be daunting to think about the scale of the climate crisis, taking action to reduce your own carbon footprint is a great place to start.
Important information
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