Why You Should be Conscious of Your Carbon Footprint

Over the next century, the world will become 2.5 degrees to 10 degrees warmer, resulting in dramatic changes in weather patterns, an ice-free Arctic, a rise in sea levels, all of which could lead to a loss in animal habitats and worse living conditions for people everywhere. But, there is a simple way to help prevent this: reducing your carbon footprint. Carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases generated by people due to their actions. In the United States alone, Americans have an average carbon footprint of 16 tons. That is four times greater than the global average of about four tons per person. This is partially due to the way that Americans power their homes. Travel is a big contributor as well. According to an article by hydrogeologist Scott K. Johnson, “…Americans own more vehicles. There are over 800 of them per 1,000 people.”  This is much higher compared to many European countries. More vehicles mean more travel. More travel means increased levels of carbon dioxide emissions, which negatively contributes to climate change.

There are countless ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Try to eat local and organic foods. If food is imported from somewhere far away, it requires transportation by vehicle, which releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Reusing things like containers and plastic bags help in the long run as well. Something everyone should consider is to completely avoid fast fashion. Leftover clothing items usually get dumped in landfills and produce methane over time as they decompose. Try thrifting instead! If you go on vacation, try to book a connecting flight instead of two separate flights. If you don’t know where to start, educate yourself! Learn more about how to help and become politically active. A lot of change requires action from the government itself.