AI isn’t just smart. It’s hungry. And what it craves most is power. Not the world-domination kind, but real electricity. Just training one large AI model can use as much energy as 100 American homes use in a year. That’s just the training part. After that, AI models run in huge data centers—buildings packed with servers that never sleep.

By 2027, AI could use up to 3.5% of the world’s electricity, according to experts. That’s more than many countries use. And where does that energy come from? Mostly fossil fuels. So every AI chatbot or image generator might be quietly warming up the planet.

Scared yet? You should be. If we keep feeding AI like this, we’re looking at more pollution, more power outages, and a world where machines are draining our planet faster than we can fix it.

But we’re not helpless. We can steer things the right way.

Here are 5 smart ways to stop an AI power crisis:

Build greener data centers – Use solar and wind to power AI, not coal.

Smaller models, smarter use – Don’t use giant AI for every small task.

Stronger rules – Governments must set limits on how much power AI can use.

Teach people – Everyone should know how AI works and what it costs.

Use staff augmentation companies – They let you hire AI experts without wasting resources. Partnering with a staff augmentation company [/https://epicx.co.uk/] is cost-savvy, efficient, and keeps AI in human hands.

AI is a tool. Let’s treat it like one—not like a god. Want to explore how smart hiring can help keep AI in check? Try staff augmentation, green tech options, or AI energy stats.

To have A sustainable city such as Copenhagen Denmark which city has 55% wind-powered city. This is a big contributor to how sustainable they are. Even with wind power they still use coal which is 17% of the energy they use. Copenhagen has some of the best biking opportunities in the world with 45% of people commuting by bike. One of the corporate goals is to be 100% renewable energy by 2050. What are some ways you can reduce the carbon emissions in your city ( info from https://carbonneutralcities.org/cities/copenhagen/)

Some ways that people can reduce emission in their cities is by using public transportation as the cities in Europe have been shown to use. I personally use my cities public transportation called BART, which is a train that takes me from my house to San Ramon every weekend. If I were to take a car every weekend instead of BART then the emissions that just I would emit would be far greater then if I continued using the train. If everyone in my city used as much public transportation then the emissions would decrease a lot.

Transportation plays a big role in carbon emissions because most vehicles that aren't electric run on fossil fuels like gasoline. This causes tons C02 to be released into the atmosphere when cars, trucks and airplanes burn these fuels. In many countries transportation in the biggest source of C02. To help the planet we need transition from using gas transportation to using electric cars, biking places more, or using more public transportation, also cities making public transportation electric can also help a lot.

something that everyone can do to reduce there carbon footprint is eating less meat. Even though i do realize meat is a crucial part of a lot of people’s diets and not an easy thing to give up, i still think a lot of people aren’t aware of the serious affects meat has on our environment. The 1st thing i have to say about meat is how much land it takes to raise meat that is fully grown, one thing i’m not sure most of you know is that feeding someone who is vegan for a year takes only 1/6th of an acre of land while someone on a meat and dairy diet for a year uses 18 times that amount of land. i think this is a very scary statistic but also a very real one, raising meat does use a lot of land and meat eaters have to realize that. the 2nd thing i have to say about meat is how much methane cows produce. cows produce this methane through there farts, burps or poop, we contribute to this by eating cows. considering how many cows are bred because of the demand we put on them meaning more of the methane that cows produce is going up into the atmosphere. i think it is a really good idea for people to consider eating less meat and dairy meals each week as it is a great way to help save our planet and reduce your carbon footprint.

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization, over 900 million people on Earth don’t have enough food to eat. This is nearly 1 in 7 inhabitants on Earth. Assessing our carbon footprint in correlation with our dietary choices shows that plant-based diets, often vegan or vegetarian, substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions as opposed to meat-heavy diets.

I agree with you, eating less meat is a great way to help the planet. Raising animals uses a lot of land. A vegan diet can cut land use by up to 75% (University of Oxford), which means more space for vegetation and animals. Also, cows release a gas called methane, which traps heat and harms the atmosphere. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) says methane is over 25 times stronger than carbon dioxide. Even eating a few plant based meals each week can lower your carbon footprint and help the Earth.

I was very surprised by the high carbon levels in America compared to other countries' averages. It got me thinking: why is America so bad at reducing its emissions? I have a couple of solutions to this, starting with producing more naturally produced foods or producing things like meat in a more carbon-efficient way. This could bring down the carbon footprint immensely if people in the US did not eat at fast food restaurants so much and supported more places that sell natural foods. We could also switch things like gas stoves and gas cars for electric stoves and electric cars, which emit less carbon than gas-powered items.

People always say not to buy fast fashion, but why? If the clothes are already there in the store what difference does it make if I buy them? You have probably also heard of supply and demand. When there is high demand for a product, more supply will be made. When you buy clothes, decor, etc. from fast fashion stores you are creating demand. Then, companies create more supply to meet this demand. If we keep up this mindset that what we buy doesn't matter, then companies will keep creating supply, and damaging the earth.

I agree, and I think a way to bring down the demand is for more people to switch to thrift shopping. It is much more environmentally sound, it saves money, and as an added bonus makes you swaggier. The more people who switch to this environmentally sound way to shop, the less demand the stores will recieve, and the less they will produce, ultimaely leading to much less waste from clothing items. Although thrifting is a great way to reduce personal global impact, I believe there also needs to be more laws and regulations in the clothing industry because fast fashion is thriving despite having a continuously bigger impact on the environment. There needs to be a limit on the amount of clothing items that can be produced at once, ensuring the least amount of excess stock.

Do paper straws, that we get in almost every shop whit a drink, actually make a diffrance in the global carbon footprint? I am sceptical because we need to cut down a tree for them and after we use them, we cant reuse them like a plastic straw. Also they usualy come in a plastic pacaging so i dont see the point. At our homes there is a option to use metal straws but i dont like them because they are hard to clean and im not sure if they have better carbon footprint than plastic straws. Please tell me if you know a better alternative to plastic straws.

I know this doesn't seem helpful, but not using straw in general and sipping from a cup is probably the best solution that you'll ever find. One with zero waste and zero down side, unless you count something on your lip when you're drinking something a little more dense. Another solution though that I researched is pasta straws. I found a company named Pasta Life that makes straws made of pasta so you can just eat your straw right after which is also zero waste. The down fall was that you can't use it in hot beverages, but almost all hot beverages are better straight out of the cup anyway.

I was very surprised to see how high my carbon footprint was, especially from the amount of traveling I did. I think, in my general area the carbon footprint was so high because most of the people in my neighborhood leave their lights on in their house before they leave for the day, which usually means they'll be gone for several hours of the day. I also do this sometimes but I should stop to reduce my carbon footprint, I think other people can also stop doing things like leaving the water running and using their cars to travel places that are close to reduce fossil fuel emissions.

Many of us are probably used to eating meat, dairy, eggs and other animal products quite frequently, if not every day. What a lot of us don't know (or choose to ignore) is the horrors that go on inside the meat/animal product industry. The animals in them are subjected to short, tortuous lives, with many living cramped together and in inhumane conditions. In addition to all of that, it is horrible to the environment, with factory farming being one of the leading cause of greenhouse gases worldwide.Eating less meat could help to reduce our carbon emissions as a group effort, and would help the environment and the animals as well.

Air travel is one of the most carbon-intensive activities an individual can engage in. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), commercial aviation accounts for about 2–3% of global CO₂ emissions, but its overall climate impact is higher due to the release of other gases at high altitudes, which amplify warming effects (Lee et al., 2021). Air travel has become an integral part of global connectivity, enabling economic development, cultural exchange, and personal freedom. However, its environmental cost—particularly in terms of carbon emissions, is significant and often underestimated.

Climate change is a very real and is mainly caused by humans, although many people are doubtful this is even occurring. Climate change is the long-term change in Earth’s temperature, weather patterns, and climate systems. According to NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Earth’s average temperature has increased by about 2 degrees Fahrenheit since the late 1800s, and most of that increase has happened since 1975. This is due to the pollution from cars, factories and power plants. However, there have been natural factors that contribute to climate change such as volcanic eruptions or changes in the sun’s energy. While these might not be the main causes, they do speed up the process. Without humans, climate change may occur over many years, but nowhere near as quick or devastating as it is now.

The strong want to be able to have the popular things/items that are seen all over the internet, muddle the opinion of whether it is actually needed, or do we want it so bad that it feels like we need it? Lots of things are bought because someone wants it, but when something is needed, people noticeably slack on buy that item because it isn't wanted.

Every time you buy a jar of Nutella, a Hershey's chocolate bar or a bottle of Pepsi, your contributing to the killing of orangutangs and Co2 being emitted. Palm oil is an extremely versatile product and is very common in the US, especially in processed foods. During  the manufacturing, countries such as, Indonesia or Malaysia's rainforests are being chopped down in order to create room for palm or plantations. This is a problem since trees are a carbon sink so they help absorb the Earth's CO2. When there cut down, all the Co2 which was once stored is now emitted. According to Gregory P. Asner at the Carnegie Institution for Science, "Tropical deforestation contributes to about 20 percent of annual greenhouse gas emissions." Not only is this issue contributing to climate change, animals specifically orangutangs are dying in the process from loss of habitat. According to Orangutang Foundation International, 1,000 to 5,000 orangutangs die each year in Palm Oil concessions. This is significant as there's only 55,000 to 65,000 orangutangs in the wild. Palm oil is a major issue which isn't talked frequently enough. One way to help is by boycotting brands such as, Pepsi, Nutella and Hershey's for using palm oil. By doing so we can lessen the demand needing less palm oil being manufactured. How can we further lessen this issue?

As a student who has lots of activities to do in and outside of school, I can’t always use public transportation. This is one of my personal reasons for my high carbon footprint, as I’m sure it is for many other students. A way for our cities to combat this is by making it more accessible. Instead of me having to walk a mile to the correct bus stop and then walking two more to get to where I need to be, it is majorly inconvenient. Also, when I have used public transportation to get to where I need to go, I am often late. If cities can implement a way to make more specific public transport, that would help this issue. I understand that this wouldn't be easy and is risky if people don’t end up using it, but with a good amount of promotion, it can work.

These days a lot of people buy useless clothes that they never wear. I don't think that these people realize the harm they are doing to our planet by doing that. Until I joined this project I didn't even realize that just simple shopping can endanger our planet. So, next time you shop. Make sure that you buy only the most necessary things or shop in second hand shops. That way you can save money and our planet.

I agree with this completely. More recently I've found myself feeling similar wanting to buy less but for a different reason, I wanted to not buy clothes to have sitting in my wardrobe that I don't wear. Feeling bad due to the number of these clothes I have. But now this website has enforced my intuition and now puts into perspective the role that I have even when shopping. Also I do love to indulge in second hand shopping due to finding cool, old, and not ridiculously priced, makes me thrift frequently. I sort out clothes while shopping personally by thinking do I really need it? Then another way to help the clothing cycle is selling, or donating your clothes thus helping buyers not purchase new for no reason when you can get it cheaper, and saving people from throwing away there old clothes.

You are right about how buying too many clothes can harm the planet. A lot of people don't realize that buying clothes that they are never gonna wear is gonna take up space in their closet, and it contributes to massive amounts of waste and pollution, as the fashion industry is one of the top global polluters. I had a similar realization when I watched a documentary on fast fashion and saw how much water is used just to produce a single T-shirt. Since then, I’ve started shopping more intentionally, focusing on quality over quantity and choosing second-hand stores when possible. Your point about saving both money and the planet is important and practical—it’s a small step that can make a big difference if more people adopt it.

I agree that lots of people today buy clothes just to buy them and never end up wearing them. I think trends contribute to that because people like to buy what's popular now. The bad thing is that trends change quickly, and the more people buy into trends and buy unnecessary things, the more it harms our planet. For me, I try to limit myself when going shopping, and if I see clothing I like, I always ask myself, "Would I actually wear this frequently?" I find this limits me from buying more and spending more. I hope more people come to the realization that we are harming our planet, and this will have a massive impact on the future, or even now. If you're going to buy clothes, be honest with yourself about whether or not you are going to wear them or toss them after a few months, and it ends up in a dump.

Environmental pollution is a very negative thing that affects the entire planet sooner or later, for example animals, humans, landscapes, forests.
If we do not end them in the future we would not be able to live on our planet due to so much pollution.

I agree with you, but I think that there are more details that you can bring to the surface. Humans are the main cause of environmental pollution. Our everyday tasks and everyday routines pollute the environment. Some examples of this are, bonfires, eating not organic meats, phone usage, and clothes that we wear that are produced in factories. But, we can do better with these things in the future. Some things that we can do to reduce environmental pollution are eating more vegetation foods, turning off lights when we don't need them on, trying our best to conserve energy, and not buying things from huge industries. Those are only some of the things we can do to make environmental justice, save animals, landscapes, and forests from what we are doing to ourselves.

I agree. If we don't stop polluting, there will be no future or a future with little to no resources for us humans to depend on. Yet, there are still many factories, vehicles, and whatever else is causing pollution that is still causing pollution. I think people should take action and think about what we can do to lower our pollution rates.

I agree with you! Firstly, it directly impacts our health. Air pollution, for instance, can lead to respiratory issues, heart disease, and even cancer. When we’re inhaling toxic chemicals or toxic matter, it’s like we’re inviting a host of health issues into our lives. Pollution disrupts natural habitats and endangers wildlife. When species struggle to survive, it throws off entire ecosystems.Healthy ecosystems provide essential services, like clean air and water, pollination of crops, and climate regulation.

I agree with you fully! Pollution does really harm many things on Earth and it starts with human's irresponsibility and stuborness on the subject. I think more people need to recognize how serious of a problem this is and not wait to change until it is too late. If we don't act now, there will be damage that cannot be undone.

I agree with you 100%! We really need to lower our pollution rates as a species and get thiis under control. If we continue at the rate we are going, things will not end well for us and our time and the time of the other species on this Earth.

Environmental pollution harms people, animals, and ecosystems around the world. If it continues to get worse with no limits, the planet may become unlivable for the generations of all species to become. The United Nations and other organizations have linked pollution to rising global temperatures and worsening climate conditions. It's easy to see the effects in everyday things, like the amount of trash and bad air quality. We need global promis to protect our environment and make sure our home stays healthy.

I agree with you! Environmental pollution is a big thing in our environment. It harms human health, damages ecosystems, and contributes to climate change. It is a serious global issue that affects the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land we live on. My experience is that I have traveled to countries that have loads of trash in there rivers and the air there can sometimes be thick. If we don't do something now it might be to late for the next generation to have a clean environment. To prevent this we must come together and protect our environment.

I agree that environmental pollution needs to be addressed. I think that there are many different ways to approach this issue, but I think the one that should be focused on it water and air pollution. Both of these things are global issues that affect almost everyone everyday. To stop this, we need to come together to collaborate and think about the ways that we could help decrease this pollution. One way could be like talking to major corporations and help stop they from polluting the environment.

Environmental pollution is a serious issue because it affects people, animals, and the planet. When I calculated my carbon footprint, my home energy use was the highest. That showed how much electricity impacts the environment. To reduce pollution, I can turn off unused light and use less heating.

I also agree, environmental pollution needs to be correctly addressed so that it doesn't keep negatively impacting the world. Environmental pollution is the dumping of unwanted mass into Earth's natural resources. Exposure leads to disease, especially respiratory, infections and disorders. Pollution can also cause ground-level ozone, damaging crops and agriculture as well as bringing harsh weather phenomena. If not addressed, environmental pollution will lead to Earth becoming inhabitable.

I agree with you that pollution has impacts on humans, animals, and the environment. Air and water pollution contribute to serious health issues and damage ecosystems. Pollution also initiates climate change, leading to extreme weather and habitat loss. To address this problem, we need a combination of stronger environmental policies, focus in clean technologies, and greater public awareness.

I agree because pollution hurts all living things. Dirty air makes us sick, kills animals and covers our skies with bad air. Trash in rivers and oceans harms fish and birds and can end up in our food. Poison in the soil stops plants and crops from growing well. If we keep polluting, the earth wont give us clean water and all the other materials that we need.

Earth's temperature is warming up at an alarming rate due to how big our carbon footprint is. The global average carbon footprint per person is 4.8 metric tons. Due to how much CO2 we are releasing sea levels are rising and our ecosystem is collapsing. Most of CO2 comes from our households due to how much energy they hold. A way to reduce how much CO2 your producing is using a renewable energy source. An example of this is implementing solar panels. Additionally, you can use fans instead of air conditions. Another method you can use to lower your carbon footprint is unplugging your devices when your not using them or installing low-flow showerheads since they are proven to reduce water consumption and the energy needed to heat water. The final method I recommend is following the RRR rules. Reduce, reuse and recycling minimize waste and gives items a second chance. Most people throw items after one use since it has become normalized in society. But small changes like the ones I just recommended add up to a big step towards lowering your carbon footprint.

By far the largest impact to my carbon footprint was transportation, specifically flying. This is because I have family across the country that I visit twice a year, as well as I travelled to visit extended family across the world for the first time this year. This is a difficult decision for me, because while I care a lot about lowering my carbon footprint, I do not know if it is worth it to sacrifice seeing my family. Though my family does purchase carbon offsets to help mitigate the impact, I still feel bad about flying so much when I know it has such a huge negative impact. I think this is a difficult issue for people who live far away from their families, and I'm not sure what is the right thing to do.

Hi tivakc, I think what you are saying makes perfect sense; yes, it uses lots of carbon to fly places but it's also necessary if you want to stay in touch with your family. I also have family out of the country and in different Provences that I would not give up seeing just because of the environmental impact. There are so many other things I (and many others do) to reduce their carbon footprint. I believe it is up to the government and engineers to make flying more sustainable. The plane was a great invention at the time but now as the environment is at risk, it is time for a change, and unfortunately, as individuals, we can not make this change. However, we can write letters and campaign for a change.

I agree with what was said above as for me flying was the biggest part of my carbon footprint but it is off the table to change as i also have family on the other side of the country which makes them very hard to reach if not flying. I also agree with the fact that companies could find a way to make aircraft travel more carbon friendly as for lots of people not flying is impossible.

This post really resonated at lot with me because transportation, and more specifically flying, is by far the aspect of my lifestyle that contributes the most to my carbon footprint. I deeply care about the environment, sustainability and my personal environmental impact, but I have family all across that country in the states of Georgia, Michigan, Alaska, Tennessee, Washington DC and Colorado and Minnesota. For reference, I live in California, and it is incredibly important for all the members of my family that we visit each other. Like tivakc, my family also purchases carbon offsets but that does not make up for environmental harm. I also think that TeaganCR has a really good point in saying that the government and engineers need to be addressing the environmental costs of flight but I also believe it is up the individuals to make other significant carbon footprint reducing changes in their lives such as eating less meat, especially if giving up flying is not an option.  Finally, I think in addition to the work that governments and those who design airplanes can do to make flight more sustainable, I strongly believe that we also need to hold the large airplane coperations accountable.

My carbon footprint was pretty average until it came to the transportation section, so I relate to this a lot! My carbon footprint escalated quickly when I put in all my flight information from the past year which made me feel a bit helpless. My family loves to travel which I am eternally grateful for, but I had no idea it was hurting our planet so much. It makes me sad to realize that experiencing different cultures, traditions, and new places comes with the price of destructive carbon emissions. I wonder if there are any other materials we could use to make planes fly but travel still safe and accessible?

Being mindful before buying something and not buying unnecessary products.

A lot of the time I have the experience of buying something that I don't really need but feel like it will make me happy. This may be a response to boredom, however a goal I for myself is to find something else to occupy myself with instead of adding to overconsumption and waste. These harmful materialistic behaviors are something I know a lot of teenagers and people in general struggle with, as due to media the solution to every problem seems to be a new product. This wasteful mindset is part of the reason our planet is in such a bad state. An example of this is the floating trash islands in the ocean and the piles of old products and trash in third world countries that are direct results of our consumer driven society. A way to combat this is to think about if you really NEED something before buying it or if it will just collect dust in your home before you throw it out and it pollutes our environment.

The fact that the carbon footprint survey asked us where we live got me thinking. Where should our actions and next steps be focused? Nobody can really help where they live, and I doubt that anyone is going to uproot their lives just to reduce their carbon footprint. And while humans leave a very large carbon footprint, I think reduction efforts should be focused in places that can implement those changes. It wouldn't make sense for us to focus our efforts in a rural countryside where everyone already lives frugally, but it also wouldn't make sense to pour all of the effort into a place like New York City that is already super industrialized. If we did that, we would be putting in a lot of effort without a lot of reward. Instead, if we focus on more suburban neighborhoods and towns, that amount of effort could really change things. I learned through my survey that most of my carbon footprint comes from transportation. I can't exactly help transportation because I can't drive and live in a big city, but for people who CAN help it, they should, not by completely cutting all individual transportation, but by giving a friend a ride to work, or taking the subway on Fridays. Stop focusing on the big picture. If you do that, you'll get tunnel vision. Focus on the little ways you can help and do everything you can. Not doing so is the same philosophy as saying "Oh, darn, I only have 45 minutes to work out today instead of an hour. I guess I'm better off just not working out at all." It's always better to do something, even if it's half-assed, because half-assing something is still doing it. So, focus on the little ways to reduce carbon footprint, and know that every little thing done has the potential to make a big difference.

The design of cities is highly correlated with the carbon output of its residents. aside form obvious causes like the power grid and whereof it draws its energy, street design and urban sprawl create a mandate for personal vehicles to get on with daily life. In towns and cities in Europe which were originally built when there were no cars, it was expected that everyone would walk everywhere. As such the distribution of houses, shops, and institutions was condensed such that it was possible for an individual to reach them on foot. These cities retain, even now with automobiles, the relevance of walking. With narrow streets designed for walking it can often be cumbersome to drive, lowering the otherwise resulting emissions. In modern cities this is a stark opposite to the urban sprawl and normalization of driving everywhere.

cite:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/129 … y-country/

Hello Hilo,

You bring up an amazing point about how historical design shapes current sustainability. I also would add that cities with walkable infrastructure also benefit from reduced emissions. Not just due to less driving, but because dense urban living often means smaller living spaces, which consuming less energy overall. However, in our wonderful country the United States, many newer developments prioritize wide roads over narrow and start to enforce zoning laws that separate residential from commercial areas, making cars almost necessary. So if we start to reimagine urban design around mixed-use zoning and transit-oriented development, it could definitely help reverse some of the effects of urban sprawl.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "compact, mixed-use development helps reduce emissions and promotes healthier lifestyles."

Transportation makes up a large part of both personal and national carbon emissions and is definitely a problem that needs to be addressed, especially in the United States. Public transportation has been underfunded for years in the U.S. and it is very difficult to live in most cities without a car, but in many European cities people can rely solely on walking and public transportation. European citizens on average have much lower carbon emissions, too, though likely from a combination of things. Better train systems in the United States would also lower the number of domestic and intrastate flights taken, which right now is a number in the tens of thousands per day range and affects greenhouse gas emissions greatly. The government needs to focus on providing safer and more widely accessible transportation options and U.S. citizens need to commit to choosing them over personal vehicles when possible.
https://www.sei.org/publications/consum … itigation/
https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involv … alculator/

Ocean acidification is no joke. So many different sea animals are going extinct, many of these are keystone species. For example coral reefs are a big concern because they are going through mass extinction, this is because of the carbon getting into the ocean and heating it up. This happens because the carbon is reducing the ph levels and making the ocean more acidic which corals react very poorly to because the water is so warm, the coral will expel the algae that lives in their tissues and the coral will turn white, if the algae doesn’t come back the coral will die. This can happen in 4 weeks if the water goes up by 1 degree celsius, if this keeps happening we will have no coral in the future and coral reefs are a keystone ecosystem for so many species.

I completely agree with this. Ocean acidification needs to be talked about more so that a difference can be made. The longer we wait, the harder it would be to come back from our mistakes. Keystone species are a crucial part to our ecosystems and many more species will die if we keep doing what we are doing. Our planet is warming at such an alarming rate, organisms don't have time to evolve and adapt to these new circumstances. The last time the earth's climate changed this much there was a mass extinction. We need to worry about our carbon emissions now, so that in the future coral still exists.

I agree with what you are saying nora. The oceans have never been this warm and I don’t think they will ever go back down. Even if the feature we reduce the amount of carbon we produce we can’t bring the coral back to life. We have to take action now if we want to save our oceans. I’m fortunate enough to have gone snorkelling before and see how beautiful the coral is. I and assume everyone else wants to be able to go snorkelling with their own kids, and not have to tell them about them like we talk about dinosaurs today.

I agree with everything that u guys are saying. There is absolutely no way we can fight a problem most people don’t even know is happening. Most people hear about oceans being polluted by micro plastics but not how the fundamental chemistry of our oceans are being changed. And un like most climate issues where there are a hole bunch of different causes we know that this is being caused by an increased amounts of carbon in the atmosphere. Which causes the ocean to heat up. People say it’s hard to fight for something you can’t feel or see happening. This is why the worming of the planet is being so strongly fought for but you can see the impacts of worming oceans. When you see the news that says we are in a mass extinction event and you go back to your favourite scuba diving or fishing spot and there are no fish and the coral Reeves are bleached. Or u dip you feet in the ocean and don’t feel that familiar numbing cold. Our every impact is shown all around us and if we are going to solve this problem you can’t look away.

I as well agree with what your saying about ocean acidification. It's really sad and disappointing to see how much ocean life is going extinct and is in danger because of it. Coral reefs are very important and its honestly scary that they can die so fast just from the water changing its temperatures. They help and benefit many sea creatures and if this continues it will change the future of of our ocean life. We really need to stop polluting and try to protect our oceans before it gets to late.

After I completed the I2Sea carbon footprint calculator, I became more aware of the things I mindlessly do daily that really impact it. For the most part my carbon footprint was lower than the average in my area, but my transportation levels were a prominent outlier. I didn't expect them to be that high, but it makes sense since I recently took a big trip to Japan and Korea over my spring break that included a 11 hour plane ride one way. If it not were for that trip, I think the levels would have been lower. My home, food and purchase levels were drastically lower than the average. However, my purchases were ten times lower than the average calculations. So I think this calculator is pretty accurate since it separates the carbon footprint levels into sections or certain parts in our lives, but at the same time one thing like my trip can kinda throw it all off.

Ocean Acidification is when the ocean becomes more acidic due to too much carbon dioxide in the air. The ocean absorbs this and it then mixes with the water which forms an acid. This acid can be harmful towards sea life like clams, oysters, and coral because it makes it harder for them to build their shells. Many sea animals like fish, depend on coral reefs for a place to live and to have shelter. If we continue to pollute the air, ocean acidification can become even more harmful not only to us but to ocean life as well.

In our society, lots of new things are being made cheap and quickly every second of the day. They are made out of plastic, being imported into wealthier countries, and they don't tend to last. Instead of participating in fast fashion, people should try going to thrift stores and buying used clothes or items. Thrifting is also typically much cheaper than buying brand new items. You may even find products which are made with higher quality fabrics. If you grow out of your clothes you should donate them to thrift stores, reuse the fabric for something else, or try making a Tshirt no sew reusable bag.

I like your opinion and I completely agree with you. More and more clothes are bought every day and I think too many clothes are thrown away. Some stores recycle used/old clothes but not enough. I think influencers could contribute to solving this problem because they have a great influence on young people. Some of my friends also use the app to sell things at low prices. I think it's good for both people and the environment.

I totally agree with you. Fast fashion has done so much harm to the environment, and the items being produced are cheaply made and often break down after a short period of time. I’ve started thrifting a lot and can honestly say that it is much better than buying fast fashion. Many of the things I find are even vintage and the quality of the clothing is built to last a long time. Additionally, the clothes are being reused instead of being dumped. I am proud to say that a large amount of my wardrobe has been thrifted instead of bought brand new. Also, I crochet accessories for myself instead of buying them, like beanies, bags, and leg warmers. By crocheting, I am paying much less for items than what I would pay for if I bought them brand new from a fast fashion brand. It’s also very rewarding to be able to say that I made an item by hand. I think buying clothes and accessories secondhand or even making them yourself is a great alternative to fast fashion and a great way to reduce waste and pollution.

I agree with you that thrifting and crafting are great ways to be more sustainable. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) states that over 11 million tons of textile waste were thrown away in the U.S. in 2018, which is really concerning. Thrifting can help make a change by giving clothes a second chance rather than tossing them in the landfills. From my own experience, I've been able to find some very nice clothes while thrifting and sometimes the quality is way better than fast fashion. Also Fast fashion is cheap and does not last long. Lastly, I like the idea of reusing old clothes to make things like reusable bags or other crafts. It's a creative way to repurpose old clothes instead of throwing them out.

I completely agree with you. The cycle of fast fashion and constant consumption is not only harmful to the environment but also encourages a throwaway mindset where individuals will waste clothing that someone else could've used. I also agree that thrifting is such a great alternative — it helps reduce waste, supports sustainability, and often leads to finding unique, high-quality items that you can't get in regular stores. I also love your idea about reusing fabric, it’s eco-friendly, and a great way to give old clothes new life. In addition, I wonder if there are any companies that already use old fabric to create new clothes.

I see your point, Nina. Thrifting and upcycling things not only conserve waste but also give us the chance to find high-quality pieces. Thrifting has a big affect in reducing waste. I also like the idea of making reusable bags out of discarded shirts. Have you ever tried making other things from thrift shopping items?

Ocean acidification is a worldwide environmental issue mainly resulting from the increase in carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels in the atmosphere due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. When the ocean takes up too much CO₂, it dissolves into seawater to form carbonic acid, which lowers pH and reduces the amount of carbonate ions—a crucial ingredient for sea animals that build shells and skeletons, including corals, mollusks, and some plankton. This chemical process makes it more difficult for these animals to survive, breed, and maintain healthy populations, and threatening entire ocean food webs. The sources of ocean acidification have a lot to do with industrialization and continued reliance on carbon-releasing energy sources. The sea is projected to absorb about 30% of atmospheric CO₂ emissions, buffering global warming but accelerating acidification. Impacts are extensive, penetrating biodiversity, fishery, and marine-based coastal communities relying on the sea for livelihood and food. Coral reefs, which support around 25% of marine life overall, are particularly vulnerable and face increased threats of bleaching and erosion. Ocean acidification also effects the ocean's ability to store carbon, potentially reducing its potential to buffer climate change in the long term. This can be addressed through international cooperation to reduce carbon emissions, advance sustainable development, and tailor efforts to affected communities and ecosystems.

Thanks for sharing this! Ocean acidification is something I didn’t know much about until recently, and your post really helped break it down. It's wild how something like CO₂—something we can't even see—can have such a big impact on sea life.I didn’t realize coral reefs support that much marine life. That really puts into perspective how serious this is, especially for people who rely on fishing or live near the coast. It's kind of scary, but I like how you mentioned that there are solutions, like working together internationally and focusing on sustainability.
I’ve been trying to be more mindful about energy use, like unplugging stuff I’m not using and choosing more eco-friendly products. It feels small, but I think every little bit helps. Thanks again—your post was super informative and made me think more about how connected everything really is. ?

Over the past few years climate change has accelerated with the average temperature today being 1.1 Celsius higher then what it was in 1880. This may not seem like a lot but the more we continue, the worse it gets. One leading cause to this problem is us, In 2023 37 billion metric tons of carbon was produced and over time that number will grow. My carbon footprint exudes the average of the person which is why I should take an effort to take action now. I also personally believe that grabbing the attention of people is the most important part of this process because the more people that are involved, the better of an impact we have. There are also thousands of other solutions to this problem like stopping the burning of fossil fuels as they contribute to 89% of CO2 emissions which is the biggest leading cause to climate change and why It's time for action.

You brought up some really strong points about climate change. That 1.1°C temperature rise doesn’t sound huge at first, but like you said, it makes a big difference over time. The carbon emissions number from 2023 is honestly kind of shocking.

I also agree with you about how important it is to get people’s attention. A lot of folks don’t realize how serious this is or think their actions won’t matter. But if more of us talk about it and actually make changes, we can have a bigger impact together. ?

I’ve been trying to cut back on driving and use public transport more when I can. It’s a small thing, but I think if everyone does something, it adds up. Thanks for sharing – your post definitely made me think more about what else I could do!

Environmental justice means making sure that all people, and organisms, have equal access to a clean and healthy environment. Globally, low-income communities and communities of POC often are faced with higher exposure to pollution, limited access to clean water, and overall more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Environmental justice is about understanding the inequalities and impacts and working towards solutions and policies that protect both the planet and the people most affected by environmental harm. One thing I noticed from calculating my family's carbon footprint was that a lot of the emissions came from transportation and home. Although not much can be done about traveling via planes, I think installing solar panels and using public transportation or an electric vehicle can lessen CO2 emissions, ultimately leading to less pollution and a cleaner environment.

Environmental justice is a critical movement that seeks to address the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on marginalized communities. Often, low-income neighborhoods and communities of color bear the brunt of pollution, hazardous waste, and climate change effects, while lacking adequate resources to combat these issues. This inequity stems from historical injustices and systemic racism, where decision-making processes often exclude the voices of those most affected. Advocating for environmental justice involves promoting equitable access to clean air, water, and green spaces, as well as empowering communities to participate in environmental policymaking. By addressing these disparities, we can foster healthier environments and create a more just and sustainable future for all, ensuring that every individual has the right to live in a safe and thriving ecosystem.

I completely agree, and I believe that this is a very important issue surrounding both environmental issues, and social justice ones. Your point about advocating for equitable access to water, clean air, and green spaces is a very good one, but I would also like to note how much more expensive those are too keep up. Where I grew up, there was a huge difference between the nicer places, with cleaner air, and green grass because they could afford the water bill, and places that they couldn't. Also it is the same with buying from more sustainable sources, such as local farms, and other organic food sources. I was also wondering what way do you think we should work to address these concerns and work towards a more equitable and safe environment.

Throwing away old clothes is a wasteful problem many people participate in. All those old, used, even new clothes that people throw out, get incinerated and used as fuel that pollutes the environment and hurts the earth. I read an article from NLST and RTS all relating to recycling clothes, and it mentioned how 85% of people toss away old clothes to be burned and to eventually damage the environment, when there are many more simpler and resourceful solutions. Rather than throwing away clothes, people can donate them or sell them to other people. The main solution of recycling clothes is giving them to thrift stores so they can resell it and it can make someone else happy. In the articles I read, 15% of people reuse/recycle their clothes either giving them away to people, stores or reusing them to make new and trendy clothes. My mom and I always donate my old clothes to charity or clothing drives to help other families that need clothes. We used to give them to my cousins but they have outgrown them so we donate them and see other families happy and safer with new clothes. It gives them a chance to be cared for, warm, and stylish.

Throwing away old clothes is a wasteful problem many people participate in. All those old, used, even new clothes that people throw out, get incinerated and used as fuel that pollutes the environment and hurts the earth. I read an article from NLST and RTS all relating to recycling clothes, and it mentioned how 85% of people toss away old clothes to be burned and to eventually damage the environment, when there are many more simpler and resourceful solutions. Rather than throwing away clothes, people can donate them or sell them to other people. The main solution of recycling clothes is giving them to thrift stores so they can resell it and it can make someone else happy. In the articles I read, 15% of people reuse/recycle their clothes either giving them away to people, stores or reusing them to make new and trendy clothes. My mom and I always donate my old clothes to charity or clothing drives to help other families that need clothes. We used to give them to my cousins but they have outgrown them so we donate them and see other families happy and safer with new clothes. It gives them a chance to be cared for, warm, and stylish.

I fly every year or two to see my family in Japan and it adds a lot to my carbon footprint. Even though it might have a big impact, it's extremely hard to skip out on seeing family I rarely ever get to see. My family and I do still try to be green whenever we can for our trip, we choose the eco friendliest routes that have the least stops, and sometimes my mom even brings home some recyclables because there is no recycling system in rural Japan.

I agree with you as my family also lives all around the world so maintaining a average carbon footprint can be hard. It adds a lot to my footprint as my family travels at least once a month to keep in touch with loved ones. Keeping eco friendly on your trips is a smart touch and I can definitely start to incorporate that more in my travel.

I relate to both of your experiences. While my extended family does live nearby, I do take some long-distance trips that add to my carbon footprint. Flying is a high environmental footprint activity, but studies say that some high impact activities, like major trips, are hard to completely stop doing (IPCC, 2022). Choosing to take non-stop flights and building green practice in travel, like you have done, are great methods of cutting that footprint down. It's more about finding a harmony between significant traveling and environmental consciousness. Both are important.

I also fly to visit my family who lives across the country, and it adds a significant amount to my carbon footprint. Unfortunately it is the only way to visit them besides driving, and I don't have the time to drive for four days to see them. I hope that the United States eventually develops an electric high speed rail system as that would help reduce air travel and carbon emissions a lot. I try to keep in mind how I can be eco-friendly while im traveling and on a trip. I always make sure to not over consume and to always bring a refillable water bottle instead of wasting plastic ones. I also think it is very interesting how rural Japan has no recycling system, yet the United States carbon emissions were almost five times Japan's carbon emissions in 2023 (2025, investopedia.com). I wonder what percent of people in Japan have access to recycling vs the United States.

Recently I have been flying out of state every year. Adding on to late my family does a lot of driving back and forth.  I the future I hope that the electric cars will help lower the carbon emissions.  I the U.S. around 28 percent of emissions come from transportation (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d.).  I wonder if in the future will scientist figure out a way to lower CO2 emissions

Something that I personally feel is off the table for me is getting rid of my electronic usage. While I recognize the negative effects of electronic usage, I personally feel that it is a necessity for me. Some reasons I use electronics are for schoolwork, communicating with my parents about where I need to be picked up, talking with friends, and even just for entertainment. While I do not believe in completely stop using it I do believe that cutting down my screen time would also be beneficial. Overall, I cannot promise to not use electronics, because I need them for daily tasks like homework, keeping up with friends, etc. I feel that while it may not be the best it is too big of a component of my life to completely get rid of.

I agree, it would definitely be very difficult for me to reduce my electronic usage since it is such a big aspect of my day to day life. I especially use my computer a lot for school work, and unfortunately it requires a lot of charging which takes up lots of energy. This is off the table because in modern society there is more advanced technology that has led to the manufacturing of more energy consuming devices that we all use. While my electrical usage took up a lot of my carbon footprint, it would be very difficult for me to reduce this, as its such a vital aspect of school life. I also use my devices a lot for entertainment and contacting my friends and family so it would be hard to give that up. However, I do think that I can try to reduce my screentime slightly in order to limit the amount of battery usage I have, so that way I'm not constantly using energy to charge my device.

I completely agree with this. It is so difficult to put aside electronics, especially because they are such a large part of everyday life now. Having to charge a computer, phone, and possibly other electronics take up a lot of energy, but reducing it is so hard because they are so necessary. I think for this reason getting rid of the electronics would be off the table, even though they do take up such a large part of my carbon footprint. However, I do think I can limit general phone usage and keep devices on low power mode when in use, so they won't need to be charged as often. Along with this, I can use the full extent of my device, only charging when necessary and not keeping things plugged in over night.

Product shipping and delivery is a significant contributor to climate change. Although freight shipping accounts for 3% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, the numbers could rise dramatically in the next couple of decades. Additionally, not only does international shipping and delivery result in the burning of fossil fuels for transporting goods long distances, but it also oftentimes result in a lot of excess packaging and plastic waste. The alternative to this is shopping in-stores or supporting local businesses to reduce the amount of fossil fuels being burned for transportation and the amount of plastic waste from excess packaging. Unless it's imperative to buy something online or internationally, it's overall more environmentally friendly to buy local in order to reduce your carbon footprint from shipping.

Hunger is a big problem in the world today. Millions of people don’t have enough food, even though there’s enough to go around. I learned on the i2sea site that small actions can help big issues like this. For example, food drives at schools or donating to local food banks can really make a difference. One time, my family helped pack food at a local shelter. It felt good to know that we were helping others. I think if more people helped out in their communities, we could fight hunger together. We can all do something, even if it’s small.

Having the latest technology is definitely a want, not a need. I've been using the same iPhone 12 since sixth grade and the same HP computer since fifth grade, and they still function perfectly well for everything I need. I’ve felt the urge to upgrade just because a newer version came out, but constantly buying the latest phones, headphones, or computers contributes to environmental harm, since the production and disposal of electronics generate a significant amount of waste and pollution. Most of the time, the upgrades are minor and don’t justify the environmental cost. Breaking the habit of always needing the newest tech starts with being more mindful and asking whether you truly need a new device or just want it. Educating yourself about the environmental impact can help shift your mindset toward using what you have for as long as possible.