Reducing your carbon footprint: does it make any difference?
That is the question I have for you: As an individual, do you think reducing your carbon footprint can actually make any difference in the bigger scheme of things?
First of all, before you answer this trick question, let’s take a step back and go over some basic concepts.
What is a carbon footprint?
Carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) generated as a consequence of human activities.
How is our carbon footprint going?
Globally, an individual's average footprint is somewhere around 4 tons per year. However, countries like Australia, the United States, and Canada occupy the top of the emissions rank with an average of 17, 16.2, and 15.6 metric tons per capita, respectively. Hey, you people!
So, if we reduce our footprint individually, are we causing any impact?!
Not really. But wait! Don’t give up yet. There are things we can and should do as individuals, we will get there. Let’s just understand why reducing your shower time from 45 to 5 minutes will not change the world (it might change the health of your skin, though).
In the global context, the heaviest emissions come from sources over which we have no control as individuals. Some sectors of the economy that keep things running today are responsible for most global carbon emissions. Electricity generation is one of them. Currently, much of our electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels, and electricity is used for basically everything, from making your toasts to getting a gigantic powerful machine up and running all day long.
Food production is also a huge source of carbon emissions. The biggest problem consists in putting down forests and native vegetation (AKA deforestation) and replacing them with crops and livestock. Not to mention the fact that a large share of our food production (e.g., corn and soy) serves the purpose of feeding what will later become the beef on your plate.
After electricity and the land-use sectors, industrial activities are responsible for a massive amount of carbon emissions. While industries are very busy producing all those things we need to buy together with all those things we believe we need to buy, a lot of greenhouse gas is released into the atmosphere.
All right. So there is nothing to be done. We are doomed
Not so fast. We might be doomed soon. The projections are not the most promising, but there is still time! Although at first glance small individual actions may not suffice for changing the current — troubling — scenario, there is a way of turning our daily actions into a powerful driver of change.
Let’s start from the beginning. What can we do and how?
1. understand the size of the trouble you cause
Calculating your own footprint is the first step. Evaluate your lifestyle and understand what you and your family could do to reduce your footprint is the best way to start. Energy consumption, diet, transport, and shopping habits are the most impactful aspects of our daily lives. Companies and organizations are also encouraged to perform carbon emissions accounting. This way, after understanding the critical points, an individual or a corporation can identify the best ways of avoiding, reducing or offsetting emissions.
The good news is there are plenty of free tools for carbon footprint calculation on the internet. Fear not! They are all user-friendly, and I will leave some listed in the recommendations at the bottom of this text.
2. Transform what you already know you need to transform and become an example to others, an inspiration, an agent of change
Less is less. Drive less, fly less, buy less, eat less meat and animal-based products, waste less and when doing so, do it properly. Here are some fantastic and detailed examples of what you can do to reduce your footprint in your daily life. All right, so what else?
3. Change the system
As soon as there is a robust demand, the market adjusts. It’s been like this forever, and it works. I have been on a vegetarian diet for the past 13 years, at least. A few years back, I was perceived as an ET. It was just so hard going to restaurants or finding vegetarian options in stores and supermarkets. Now, needless to say, the vegetarian and vegan markets are becoming huge and millionaires. I have hundreds of options and zero excuses for not eating any meat.
We need a systematic change. Information, education, and the demand for environmentally sound practices will force the market and industries to adapt by changing their production modes. It will pressure governments to act by implementing policies, laws, and regulations. And it will most definitely influence and inspire more and more people around the globe to pay attention, demand, and reduce their own footprint.
And then, when we are finally individuals within a gigantic group of individuals, our small actions will count.
Now, going back to our initial question: Do you think reducing your carbon footprint can actually make any difference in the bigger scheme of things?
I truly hope yes ;)
Recommendations
> Calculate your own footprint:
The Climate Partner tool lets you play around with your data and give hints on where you can reduce your carbon footprint.
Greenhouse gas Protocol has very complete and specific calculation tools for companies, cities, and organizations. Plus, they establish standards to measure and manage emissions. Worth checking to have a broader overview of the topic.
The Nature Conservancy is a North America-based nonprofit. They have a calculation tool and more info about environmental actions with which you can get involved.
Climate Neutral tool for your brand.
> More
How to Save a Planet is a really nice podcast with topics related to climate action. This episode has inspired this article. Check it out!
Lots of information and other calculation tools at Carbon Footprint.
Last but not least
Do something!
I am an Architect and Urban Planner, a Sustainability Professional passionate about cities and sustainable development. The future is here, and I can’t wait to see what it holds!
