Calculating Your Carbon Footprint
By now, we've probably all heard the phrase "carbon neutral" and frankly, you might be sick of hearing it. Whether it's the climate doom we've seemed to slip into, or the lack of knowledge on what it even means, broaching the topic may seem daunting let alone something to seriously consider. However, as Climate Week is upon us (September 17th - 24th), now feels like as good a time as ever to talk about our carbon footprint, what it means, how to calculate it, and what decreasing it really means for our planet.
Let's start with the basics. A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases that our actions generate. These gases include carbon dioxide and methane, and these actions include everything from heating our homes to our food choices in the grocery store. In The United States of America (as of 2022), the average person's carbon footprint is 16 tons. The majority of this coming from the transportation options we choose and the amount spend on home energy. 16 tons per person; this puts us at one of the highest carbon emissions in the world. Scientists say to prevent the increase of global warming to a point of no return, the world population's emissions will need to be ~ 2-4 tons.
It might seem like an overwhelming or concerning topic to spend time contemplating, but we
can do this. The first step is holding ourselves accountable and figuring out where we can cut our emissions. And, it's not as daunting as you might think. Doing things to lower your amount of car usage when able, or shopping less is a great place to start. The Nature Conservatory has a
user-friendly carbon footprint calculator that can show you how you compare to the average household.
A lot goes into these emissions, too. For example , according to 8 Billion trees,
New York City has some of the lowest emissions in the country. This might come as a shock, but if you consider the fact that major cities often have more public transportation options, or infrastructure to accommodate alternative modes of transport, it makes sense. This also can help explain why a state like Wyoming , which is largely agricultural and rural, has the largest emissions per capita numbers.
If you live in an area where public transport is not easily accessible, or don't have the means for another form of transportation, don't be discouraged! There are many other ways to reduce your footprint; the quiz mentioned above can help shed light on the areas in your life that contribute the most so you can better understand the changes you might choose to make.
We as humans have a great deal of work to do in the way of reducing our impact on the planet, but all hope is not lost. We first need education on where we can work on our own and then the commitment to out it into action. In an age where there is so much climate doom, knowing you are taking action can feel empowering and uplifting . Accounts like those of
Alaina Wood's on social media also help us remember from a scientific perspective that change is being worked on and the fight is not yet lost.
We hope this helps you know start or continue your quest towards a more neutral lifestyle and a happier, healthier planet for all. For now have fun, be safe, and we'll see you out there.
