What is ‘carbon footprint’ and why should we care?

A carbon footprint, in a nutshell, is the total amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that are generated by the actions of individuals or organizations. It is a calculated value or index that makes it possible to compare the total amount of GHGs that an activity, product, company or country adds to the atmosphere. Carbon footprints are usually measured in tonnes (CO2-equivalent) per unit of comparison that can be for example tonnes Co2-eq per year, per kilometre travelled, per piece of clothing, per kilogram of protein for consumption and so on… A product’s carbon footprint includes the emissions for the product’s entire lifecycle – from extraction of raw material to disposal of the final product at the end of its lifecycle. For instance, if we are talking about a wooden spoon, its lifecycle would involve cutting a tree to source the wood, cutting, carving and sanding a piece of wood into the shape of a spoon via hand (human power) or machine (electricity), transporting the wooden spoon to a shop, and transporting the wooden spoon from the shop to you… However, most things that we own today are not as simple as a wooden spoon and have far more complex lifecycles that are more likely than not to consume more resources and energy, and emit more GHGs through the process.

Increasing GHGs in the atmosphere blanket the Earth and traps heat, resulting to global warming and climate change. The world is now warming up faster than any point in the recorded history and warmer temperatures are changing weather patterns, disrupting the usual balance of nature and depleting habitats including those of human being – our homelands. Hence, it is crucial that we reduce our personal and institutional carbon footprint as much and as quickly as possible now. So, as Mahatma Gandhi once said, ‘if you want to change the world, start with yourself’, here are a few things that you can do to lower your personal carbon footprints easily:

Through Transportation

1. Drive less.
2. Go easy on the acceleration and brakes.
3. Regularly service your car and keep tires properly inflated.
4. Carpool.
5. Use cruise control if applicable.
6. Cut down on air conditioning.
7. Consider purchasing a hybrid or electric vehicle.
8. Avoid flying if possible. If you must, fly nonstop.

Through Food

1. Eat less meat and stick with a plant-based diet.
2. Choose organic and local foods that are in season; avoid imported foods that must be transported from afar.
3. Reduce food waste.
4. Compost – organics won’t decompose properly in landfills.
5. Use reusable cups, plates, utensils, bottles and containers.

At Home

1. Turn down your water heat to 50°C.
2. Lower your thermostat in winter and raise it in summer.
3. Turn off lights and unplug appliances when not in use.
4. Change incandescent light bulbs to LED or CFL bulbs.
5. Use a lower-flow showerhead.
6. Look for an ENERGY STAR® symbol when buying new products.
7. Choose renewable energy.
8. Do an energy audit of your house and identify how to make your home more efficient.
9. Recycle effectively.
10. Insulate your home to keep heat inside in the winter, and outside in the summer.
11. Donate old clothes.

When Shopping

1. Buy only what you need.
2. Bring a reusable shopping bag and avoid using single-use bags.
3. Invest in quality products that last or can be repaired.
4. Buy pre-owned clothing.
5. Support and buy from companies that are environmentally responsible and sustainable.

By Taking Action

1. Talk to family and friends about climate change issues and carbon footprints.
2. Find and participate in local climate action groups.
3. Speak to your local representatives and vote on policies that protect the environment.

Finally, if you would like to know where you are starting from by calculating your current carbon footprint or perhaps compare the before-and-after of your efforts, there are many different tools to help you do so today. For instance, if you are in the US, you can use the Coolclimate Network Calculator. If you are in the UK, you can use the WWF Footprint Calculator. If you are in the rest of the world, you can use the Carbon Footprint™ calculator.

Have you already made a habit of lowering your personal carbon footprints on a daily basis, or do you find it difficult to adapt and why? What else besides those that I have listed can we do to reduce our personal carbon footprints? Share your experiences and thoughts with us!