Is the sharp increase in temperature to blame for extreme weather or is simply that there is an increase in temperature that causes the weather.

The sharp increase in temperature is causing irreparable damage that in a few years will trigger major problems.

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The sharp increase in temperature isn't the only thing to blame for our extreme weather, we need to think of who is warming our plant. We as humans burn too many fossil fuels which in result is releasing tremendous amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and yet we think "oh the plants can absorb it and release oxygen back out to us." But the reality is that the plants can if we weren't cutting them all down, about each second an acre of forest is cleared away due to deforestation to raise cattle. And our oceans can absorb carbon dioxide but the sea waters are now getting to a point where they are so acidic that they can dissolve shells. So we can't just be putting all the blame of extreme weather on increasing temperature if we are the ones causing it.

The sharp increase in temperature may be the cause of our extreme weather, but we are still responsible. Deforestation, burning and mining for fossil fuels and other human activity release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon traps heat in the atmosphere which causes it to warm up.

Global warming is causing rising sea levels, extreme weather, and loss of biodiversity.

https://www.remaiser.es/

Working in the Kuningtoto slot online game industry, I’ve seen firsthand how AI is changing the way we work. Tasks that used to take hours—like writing promotional content or analyzing player behavior can now be done in minutes with AI tools. When we launched new slot games like Sweet Bonanza or Mahjong Ways, AI helped simulate thousands of spins for testing, saving us a lot of time.
Even in customer service, AI chatbots now handle basic questions, letting our team focus on real player issues. I don’t feel replaced—instead, I feel supported. AI helps with the heavy lifting, so I can focus on creative thinking and player engagement.
To me, the future of work isn’t about humans losing their place. It’s about adapting and growing with smarter tools. The key is to keep learning and use AI as a partner, not a threat.

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.

Transportation significantly contributes to carbon emissions, mainly due to the widespread use of fossil fuel-powered vehicles. Transitioning to electric vehicles, promoting cycling, and expanding the use of public transport are vital steps to reduce environmental impact. Software development companies like Computools can support this shift by creating smart mobility platforms that encourage ride-sharing and route optimization. Digital tools can also help cities monitor traffic patterns and emissions in real time, enabling data-driven environmental planning. Apps that reward eco-friendly transport choices or integrate multimodal transport options make sustainable choices more accessible. Fleet management software can help logistics companies reduce fuel usage and switch to electric fleets efficiently. By leveraging data analytics, IoT, and AI, software providers can drive innovation that supports global carbon reduction goals.

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.

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.

Fast fashion is when companies make cheap clothes at a low quality to keep up with the latest trends. It contributes to waste and pollution in the environment, especially in countries where the clothing is being made. According to an article from National Geographic called "Talking to kids about fast fashion and the environment", the fashion industry is responsible for over 20% of global wastewater and 10% carbon emissions! This poses as a huge environmental justice problem because of how much harm it causes toward communities who suffer from the pollution. One way we can help combat these high emission rates is by thrifting! Thrifting helps to reduce waste as it gives clothes a second chance at being used/purchased instead of being sent to a landfill right away. I enjoy thrifting in Oakland because it's fun, cheap, and more sustainable for the planet. More teenagers should join me in thrifting instead of buying fast fashion.

Many people often buy lots of clothing that they don't need and they also do not wear. Lots of the time people buy a expensive and they will wear it only a few times. People buy the pieces of clothing from brands that do not make clothing with sustainability or the environment in consideration. The fast fashion brands are made for people who impulsive buy lots of clothing. The chain of people buying and throwing the clothing back in the closet is very very bad for the environment and your wallet. Since lots of people are repeatedly doing the process of wasting clothing the fast fashion brands keep on creating new products. Lots of energy and earth resources are being wasted all while the thing that powers this process is polluting the earth. A experience that i can relate to is one time i had bought something from a fast fashion place and i noticed that after i wore it like seven times the material started to deteriorate. That shows how these brands know that people buying aren't going to wear the items for that long. Instead you could buy from brands that have better quality so that the item lasts or you could buy second hand to reuse and stop buying into fast fashion.

I agree with your opinion on how fast fashion can become very expensive and leads to overconsumption. The goal of the fast fashion brand tis to sell as much clothing as possible and with as little money as possible into producing it. These trending brands' idea is to sell trendy low quality clothing at an amazingly low price so it will sell instantly. Then after wearing it once or twice it will rip, then you'll have to go back to the store to replace it. The cycle goes on. For example Shein produces over 6,000 new styles every day at prices of only a few dollars. The price makes you think at that point well why wouldn't I buy it. The mass production of new trends every day makes people like they need to keep up to say in line with the most current trending clothes.

The average person worldwide produces about 4 tons of CO2 yearly, while the average American produces 16 tons. At this rate, global temperature will rise by approximately 2.5°C by the year 2040. This would increase the risk of extreme heat waves, droughts, floods, sea level rise, and the overall ecosystem collapse. In today's modern world, producing carbon is inevitable, but reducing carbon release will go a long way. Most carbon emissions come from households, and simple ways to reduce emissions are by switching to LED light bulbs, unplugging inactive devices, air drying wet clothes, washing clothes with cold water, and using ceiling fans during warm seasons. High carbon emissions also come from transportation. This can simply be reduced by carpooling and using public transportation. Working from home is another recommendation, if possible, to decrease the necessity for transport. Food is another significant factor in high carbon rates. Eating less meat and dairy, buying locally grown food, and composting food scraps decrease carbon production. Finally, what a person buys impacts the environment and ecosystem via carbon emissions. Producing more products for human use releases CO2 into the air. A simple way to help is by buying only what you need, repairing rather than replacing, and using recycled materials.

Although CO2 emissions can come from many different sources, the largest contributors to CO2 emissions come from the burning of fossil fuels by method of transportation. Although individually we can do our part by driving less, or walking to places instead of driving, it is not entirely up to us. We must urge manufacturers and engineers, as well as public transportation officials to turn to a more sustainable solution to transportation and travel. Some changes have already been made, and there are more and more electric vehicles on the street. However, these vehicles are expensive and not many can afford them. We as a community should work towards encouraging companies to make more sustainable and affordable vehicles. By making sustainable travel and vehicles more affordable, this can encourage more and more people to travel sustainably. From my personal experience, most people turn to gas powered vehicles instead of electric ones not because they don't care about the environment, but simply because they cannot afford to purchase an electric vehicle. Those who cannot afford electric vehicles or even cars often turn to public transportation as well, and by making public transportation more sustainable, it will reduce carbon emissions even more.

We can promote environmental awareness by creating vehicles that are powered by electricity rather than gas. Similar to the electric car, we should copy this plan for 2035 for all forms of transportation to eventually move towards being powered by an alternative energy source. This could heavily decrease global warming's impact, as some CO2 is released into our atmosphere as a byproduct of gas-powered machinery. In addition the electric forms of transportation I speak of can also stop air pollution from causes health effects later in one's life.

One way we can make a more sustainable city is first focusing on manageable things like  avoiding fast  fashion. Fast fashion is buying clothes that are currently in style, even if you don't need them, from companies that make them with cheap materials. This creates more clothes waste when these clothes go out of style fast and can cause harm to the environment because of the cheap and therefore more dangerous materials used in fast fashion. The creation of these clothes pollute the water and cause micro fabrics into the ocean as an article, "The Environmental Effect of Fast Fashion Explained" tells us. In order to prevent fast fashion, focus on thrift shopping, or buying higher quality clothes.

I believe that traveling is a great way to make connections and experience cultures all over the world. However, traveling is often bad for the environment, especially when done a lot. I propose that people should try to make the switch to electric vehicles instead of gasoline vehicles and they should try to be mindful of the environment when traveling.

Individuals should not be able to own private planes because carbon emissions from that are the highest and I don't want to discourage people from traveling because it is a good thing for culture but people could watch what they do in other countries and how they treat the environment

I learned that rising ocean temperatures are making coral reefs bleach and die. Coral reefs are really important because they give shelter and food to tons of sea animals. I read that climate change and pollution are the main causes of this problem. I think we should all try to help the planet by using less plastic and saving energy.\

Since no one is to do it,we could add a monetary incentive for people to collect garbage and trash off the environment

I like this idea and am very curious how you would implement such an idea. I know it is very expensive to recycle which is counter to how it should be, so giving people an incentive through recycling or collecting trash is a good idea. You could even allow a reward for those that are unhoused to collect trash and bring it to a location so they can recieve some sort of monetary reward.

That inspired me to want to tell my city council about this because not only will this help the cities look great it would get the people going because who doesn't like money, most people do so this is a great idea.

I really like the idea of cleaning up our world. Whenever I see a piece of trash I pick it up and put it away in the trash or wherever it belongs. If we all do this, this will lead to a nicer and just better world.

I agree that it is very important to clean up after the Earth, as it is the home to all of us and we ultimately depend on it. When I drive from my house to school in the mornings, I see trash dumped on the side of the roads which I find very sad because of the many negative impacts it has on the environment. According to the reading "Planet or Plastic?" by National Geographic, "Plastic waste kills up to a million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals each year." This is a prime example of how littering harms the wildlife and the environment as a whole, and should be taken into account before choosing to carelessly discard your trash. Furthermore, the article, "How Does Littering Affect the Environment?' by Green Paper Products, states that "When litter breaks down, it releases harmful chemicals and microplastics. For example, polystyrene breaks into tiny pieces that pollute soil and waterways, disrupting natural habitats and food chains." This is just another aspect that should be thought about before preforming these acts, as although it may not seem like a big deal, or won't have a large affect, it truly damages ecosystems that depend on a healthy environment to survive.

I agree that we, as residents of this Earth, must clean up our environment, as no one benefits from littering and pollution. However, people are often unbothered to clean their messes up or place their trash in the proper bins, thus leaving those who wish to leave the world a better place in a difficult position, where we must work more. The disruption of our environment due to pollution, has caused many tragedies to happen both to mankind and animals.

I agree with this. Plastic pollution is becoming a bigger problem than ever before; microplastics are appearing in food, marine life is suffering, and plastic waste is pervasive. As seen in National Geographic's article on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, "For many people, the idea of a 'garbage patch' conjures up images of an island of trash floating on the ocean. In reality, these patches are almost entirely made up of tiny bits of plastic, called microplastics... The microplastics of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch can simply make the water look like a cloudy soup. This soup is intermixed with larger items, such as fishing gear and shoes." This example re-defines how we think about our waste. Plastics are often present even when not visible to the naked eye. This presents a new problem, an invisible enemy in which our oceans and waterways are polluted with. We need to find solutions to either getting rid of microplastics or stop them from being created in the first place.

To me these two words are often merged into one word which is not right. Sometimes wants are even mistaken as needs. As a conservative person, it confuses me when people seem to buy things they want when it is really a waste of money. This belief that wants are a need are even fueling causes of climate change like fast fashion where people want to and buy the cheaply made products. If these clothes were really a need then we would go to places like thrift stores more often because they would sell the clothes we needed for much cheaper.

Rampant consumerism is a very large issue in the world today. Many people feel like they always need the newest and trendiest thing, but having those things does more harm than good. What we often don’t realize is that buying new products like clothes, makeup, and other commodities hurts our environment. Due to things like international shipping, the materials used to create the products, and how they were created, harmful gas emissions are driven up. Also, oftentimes these products are thrown away when the person feels like they don’t need them anymore, and because people don’t always dispose of their waste properly, thousands of tons of discarded products end up in landfills, creating a cycle of environmental harm that cannot be undone, unless people make large-scale changes to their consumer habits. These changes could be thrifting clothes more instead of shopping fast fashion, or choosing to shop from more eco-friendly brands.

Instead of transportation we need to create communites that are more encourging to walking and biking. Though electric cars can solve part of the problem the main problem is how our communites are built to revolve around cars. My highest contributer to my carbon footprint was the transportation section this is since everyone relys on cars so much since not all communies have stores close to their communtiy so they need cars to drive to get basic nesesistys. A community centerd towards walking and biking would have all the nesary stores and food very close to or within the town. This would encourage peopel to walk since it would not be an imense amount of effort. As well as helping our planet biking and walking helps people loose weight inturn leading to a more healthy society.

use more public transport  and increase car sharing.

I agree, but I suggest walking or biking instead of driving because burning fossil fuels release a large amount of carbon dioxide (CO2). If you're going somewhere far, then that's when it is suggested taking public transportation and carpooling. If you're planning on buying a car, then consider buying an electric one with cheaper models. Even though electric cars run on electricity produced from fossil fuels, they reduce the amount of air pollution as well as causing fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

I agree with both statements. I have seen that transportation is a big aspect of lots of peoples live. Now are walk and biking better then driving yes but so many people have to commute so far or there not safer paths for pedestrian to walk safely and that makes it hard to do those things. But we help by making public transportation but for many other and personal a lot of people don’t have public transportation access nearby. If there was a bus to my school that came even close to my house I would ride the bus but there is not. I think that as you continue to try and grow for a better sustainable city we can make a difference by making public transportation more accessible as a start.

People all over the world don't realize that jeans that you buy take 1000 Gallons of water to make one pair of jeans. As humans, we drink 1/2 a gallon a day. One pair of jeans is the equivalent to 2000 people having enough water to drink for the day. When we throw away jeans, we waste that good denim material that we can use for future use. For example, in the article "Denim Insulation Review: Comparison Guide and Pros and Cons", I learned that if we use jeans that we throw away as insulation, we can save so much material on making the insulation that is commonly used, it's terrible for the environment! It can add up to 26 million Tons of CO2 emissions a year! If we started reusing jeans that we buy, we would help the environment a lot. I used this in my daily life after we remade our garage, we thrifted old jeans and used the denim from the jeans to insulate our walls and keep us warm throughout the winter. Cutting waste in material needs to be focused on more.

Many people don’t realize that throwing away food also means wasting all the energy it took to grow, ship, and store it. When food ends up in landfills, it rots and releases methane—a gas that’s way worse for the environment than carbon dioxide. In the Article" Food Waste and Climate Footprint," I learned that if food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases after the U.S. and China. I started focusing on this in my everyday life, while doing this I learned that “best by” dates aren’t always accurate, so I don’t throw stuff out just because the label says so. Cutting food waste isn't a hard problem to fix it just means we have to be more aware.

After finishing the carbon footprint survey, I saw that my home living causes a large amount of carbon emissions. Things I wasn't aware of were brought to my attention, and I could see that I need to make some changes. The amount of heat and cooling I use throughout the year is large, and the food I eat isn't always environmentally friendly due to packaging and other factors. Doing small things like adding a compost bin or solar panels can make a difference.

Did  you know 28% of the U.S co2 emmisons come from transportation. Alot of people abuse their ablity to drive somewhere because it's more convient, and can get us from place to place faster, but as we know the earth is dying due to us. We learned in an edpuzzle in class that if we put the earth existents in a 24hour spectrum we've only been on the  earth for 4 seconds, and we've already caused thousands of animal to go exist, and ecosystems to be destroyed. The Industrial Revolution, became the power house to rise in greenhouse emmsions. and ever since the average global amount of co2 has increased drastically in the past 40 years. so instead getting car to go to the park, maybe you should run or ride bike, to save the eath step by step.

People never seem to think about what their purchases could do to the environment or will they even use them at all. People should actually think if they need something when at the check out line. All people should get to get items that they enjoy but that should not come at the cost of Earth.

I agree, people do not think about the consequences to their actions.

I agree with this, people are not thinking about what they're buying and how that will impact other people and organisms. I think treating yourself to something unnecessary once in a while is a good thing, like a treat if you pass a test or a reward for doing something difficult. As a society, we can struggle to think about how our actions that we are taking now are going to affect others in future generations. If you want to buy something just because it's cheap, think about if you are actually going to use for a long time. Otherwise it would end up adding to our landfills.

I think you're right, I don't really think that some bag or shirt is worth it. We should really need to consider about second-hand shops instead od making huge amounts of clothes. Making our own clothes from old ones or from other kinds of fabric is really good way to recycle and refresh our wardrobe and it's good for environment.

I fully agree with you. Impulsive shopping has been normalized to the point where it's concerning, especially online. People just add stuff to their cart without a second thought. They don't even check the sites they order from and how much Carbon emits into the atmosphere by the shipping and transport of their order, aside from the production itself. We are absolutely allowed to buy things we want and like, not just necessities, but there is a clear line between a few funky purchases and full-on overconsupmtion and shopping addiction.

I completely agree with you. Many people don't realize the harm they are doing to our planet by buying industrially made food. I think that we should grow more food ourselves, and that way, we can take care of our planet and enjoy a delicious meal. Regarding the clothes we wear, I agree that we should shop more from second-hand shops because there are a lot of great clothes, so you can look good and reduce your carbon footprint.

You're right. Not a lot of people know just how harmful their purchases can be, whether it be food, clothes, or electronics. I think thrifting is one of the best ways to help with this problem. Me and my sister regularly to go thrift stores near us for a small electronic we want or new clothes.

I agree that although shopping can be a fun day outing we constantly overlook the destructive impacts it has on our planet. I myself love to shop, and it is a good stress reliever for me but I think shopping has normalized a culture of overlooking morality. One of the most popular stores for teenage girls to shop at is Brandy Melville, a brand that has openly presenting a fat-shaming environment fueled by it's one size fits all clothing. Fast fashion companies such as SHEIN and Temu release excess fossil fuels and carbon dioxide into the environment and exploit their workers. Nevertheless, million still flock to these stores to buy the newest trending items or for the best price. I feel like the fact that we as a society know these issues exist and still choose to shop and over-consume goods attributes to why climate change/global warming has gotten so bad today.

I agree that people buy things just for themselves, and they don't think about how if affects anything or anybody else. When most people buy things (for example clothes), they get that initial joy. But once this temporary high goes away, the object is still there and it litters the environment. People should buy things with meaning and not just to satisfy their compulsive buying habits. That's why I think thrifting is so special. Different get to enjoy the same piece of clothing, and at the same time, they get it for cheaper and higher quality.

Growing my own persimmons has shown me that home-grown food is better than store bought ones. Unlike often flavorless ones from the store, the persimmons from my persimmon tree often turn out very ripe and have large amounts of sweet flavor. Along with that, knowing they have no pesticides helps add peace of mind since there are no harmful chemicals. This experience has taught me how homegrown produce is often more fresh, higher quality, healthier, and cheap compared to store bought produce along with showing the value of connecting closely to our food source.

After finishing the carbon footprint survey, I had noticed that for food, I produced twice the normal amount of carbon. This was likely the case probably due to the fact that my diet was based around meat and lacked a healthy amount of vegetables. However, if you lack a healthy amount of meat, our energy will severely decrease causing us to feel tired and nauseous. Realizing that this is a problem, I wonder what would be a better alternative than just going vegetarian? After some time I had learned that tofu and beans produces less carbon then meat and have about the same amount of protein as meat. If enough people reduce their diet to beans and and tofu, the earths carbon can drastically go down by 25%. Although, are diets do not need to be restricted to only tofu and beans, we can have meat on certain occasions, but we should not have it every day if we want to reduce our carbon footprint.

Transportation plays a large role in our CO2 emissions. It's something many of us can't avoid and use daily, whether it's for school, work, extracurricular activities, or other purposes. So, how can we reduce the amount of CO2 being produced without just staying home and not going anywhere? As a society, we could try having more electric cars on the road, which can be an expensive option as it may require purchasing a vehicle. Some other less expensive ideas would include trying to carpool more, for example, when taking kids to school, or activities, for example, at the end of swim practice, picking up friends and taking them home, rather than their parents picking them up in another (less necessary) car. We could also start using public transportation, like the many Bishop O'Dowd students who take the AC transit and BART. Lastly, we could ask the city to implement more bike lanes, so that people feel more space when riding their bike from place to place.

For centuries now, we as human beings have been destroying our planet. Though our actions might not seem that big, every single one has a gigantic impact of the environment. By choosing to drive somewhere instead of walking, biking or even taking public transportation we are emitting more CO2 into the atmosphere than necessary. By wanting mores space for cities, factories and malls, so that we can live in abundance, we cut down forests, eliminating entire ecosystems. This process is called deforestation. Our overconsumption, intemperance and lack of constraint is seen everywhere in society; but somehow our compassion, care and action has been missing for so long. People have known, what we are doing to our earth for centuries, but they did not bother to think and stop. Though our earth is not right, for it is the only earth there is, it is the world that does not belong to anybody, though sometimes humans seem to think it belongs to them and they are the only one son it. They set their priorities straight. Before our home and its beauty, they put profit and comfort. We are stripping the earth of all it has, not caring about the fact that the earth gives us so much. The earth gives us life. Without it, we would not exist.
The novel "Dry" by Neal and Jarrod Shusterman explores a dystopian California, during an extreme drought that they call a "Tap Out". The way the novel is written, the reader can infer that it is set in a very near future. It shows the chaos in society and the struggles of the people. By highlighting all these negative effects, every reader can easily say; "This is not what they want for myself". However, the say these things during a call on the newest phone, while eating a highly processed hamburger and while drinking out of a plastic cup. If they really do not want it for themselves then why is nobody ever doing anything. Everybody wants to care, but not because they believe its right, but because they know they should. Everybody wants to care, but who really does care in a society that is built for everybody to keep consuming, a society that is built for everybody to drive fancy cars, in a society that is not built around the needs of the earth.
By putting profit and comfort before everything else, humans have mindlessly done something to the planet that might soon be irreversible. I guess they have chosen the life they want; living abundantly now and suffering later.

I want to mention, that though in a lot of parts of this response I say none, nobody and everybody I know that there really is people out there who try to help. This extreme words were just used to highlight how extreme the situation is, and though people to care, those people are normally not those in power. If the people in powerful positions started working for the environment, then we might be able to make a bigger hange.

One easy and cost effective way to reduce your carbon footprint is by using reusable shopping bags instead of plastic ones. Plastic bags are made from petroleum, and they take hundreds of years to break down in landfills. The Environmental Protection Agency (2021) reports that Americans use around 100 billion plastic bags every year, and less than 10% are recycled. By switching to reusable bags, you can reduce waste and help lower the demand for plastic production. Consumers are the source, when we stop buying there is no demand, which means no market for plastic bags. Me and my family started using reusable bags when we go shopping, and it’s such an easy change, all we do is leave the reusable bags in the trunk so if we need them they are handy and putting them away is easy. Not only does it help the environment, but it also saves money because some stores even charge extra for plastic bags. Once you change to reusable bags, it't something that is just a small change that can make a huge difference in our carbon footprint, something that doing it for a week will feel like an unconcious act

One large contributor to co2 emissions is fast fashion. These clothes are marketed as cheap and trendy, but they don't last and are harmful to the environment. Many people ignore this because they are attracted to the low cost of these clothes. Another way to find clothing at a low cost is thrifting. Thrifting is a good way to get clothing for cheaper without taking a large toll on the environment. We already have more clothes than we need in our world, so we don't need to be adding to that by buying low-quality clothing just because of it's price. Instead we can thrift used clothing that is higher quality and in many cases will last longer.

After finishing taking the carbon footprint questionnaire, I thought the category contributing the highest amount of carbon would be transportation or food. Although, when I found out that my home carbon level was the issue, I started to think of ways to lower it. I thought of things such as using more natural lighting and reducing my water usage. Another idea was to open windows or doors instead of using air conditioning. The other categories with high carbon levels was food and then transportation. I thought that walking, biking, or taking public transportation more often could help lower the level but how can I lower my food level? If I rarely to almost never eat plant-based meals and do not grow my own produce how can I lower my food carbon levels?

Consumers are always obsessed with the latest fashion trends and newest clothing items, but most of the time fail to realize what goes into creating the items they wear and own. People do not take into consideration the production of the good and how damaging the manufacturing process is to the environment.For example, clothing production use excessive amounts of water. Additionally, once trends fade and the hottest clothing style isn't as relevant anymore, these clothes get thrown away, contributing to large landfill dumps. The materials used in these clothing items take hundreds of years to biodegrade and are extremely damaging. Popular fast fashion brands (ex: Shein, Zara, H&M), produce clothes faster than consumers can buy, causing more than half of the clothes to end up in the dumps. Often times, purchasing new clothes is not even a NEED it is a WANT. If a person has clothes in their closet that fit them, there is really no need to go out and buy new clothing items, just for them to be worn once and then thrown away. Overall, Fast Fashion and Overconsumption negatively impact the environment.

I believe it comes down to want and needs at the end of the day, because we need minimal things to survive, yet what we want is so much more. For example, we only need 10-15 minute showers, but what we want is a long 30-minute shower. In addition, all we need is just some simple warm clothes, but we want 20 to 30 dollar new clothes from a new brand. If one day we learn to separate our wants and our needs and only take what we need we might just be able to make a real difference in our world. I have many things that I think I need or just want, and if I learn to cut that out of my life I could live more resourcefully and build a more sustainable environment.

Environmental justice is about fairness--making sure no group carries more of the environmental burden than others. But, in practice, it’s often the same communities, usually poor and marginalized, who face the worst climate impacts. They live near polluted areas, deal with rising heat, and have fewer resources to adapt.

It reminds me of the way injustice shows up in literature--like in Of Mice and Men or The Grapes of Wrath, where people at the bottom are hit hardest by forces they can’t control. Climate change works the same way. It’s not just about the environment--it’s about power, inequality, and who has the ability to recover.

When we talk about climate action, we should also be talking about justice. That means listening to the people most affected and making sure they’re part of the solution. Without that, any “solution” leaves someone behind.

With fast fashion brands becoming more apparent in the last decade, carbon emissions from clothing have significantly increased. Not only have more clothes been thrown in the landfill, but the higher demand for clothing to fit a specific trend has led to much higher carbon emissions. The increase in social media has promoted trends and fast fashion more than ever. Also, the process of making clothes and shipping them all around the world affects fashion companies' carbon footprints. According to the UN Environment Programme in a 2019 report, "the fashion industry is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions." This statistic highlights how the fashion industry is becoming a problem and has a very strong impact on the world's carbon footprint. Fast Fashion has added to the problem of the world's carbon footprint.

Companies have a crucial responsibility in addressing global warming. They must prioritize sustainable practices, reduce emissions, and invest in renewable energy sources.
By taking proactive measures, companies can mitigate their carbon footprint and contribute to a healthier planet for future generations.
However, as long as companies prioritize short-term profit over the well-being of the planet, change remains an illusion. It is essential for companies to realign their financial priorities towards sustainable investments and eco-friendly practices. Only then can we hope to reverse the trend of global warming and protect our environment for future generations

I definitely agree with you, many larger companies are way too obvious to the harm that their non biodegradable waste is for the environment. I feel that the larger food and grocery stores need to start solely only allow biodegradable bags/ packages.

Very true, and the people with all this money tend to say they help the environment or are going to, but don't actually act on what they said.

Very true, and the people with all this money tend to say they help the environment or are going to, but don't actually act on what they said.

I agree! We’re told that we can make a difference by turning off lights and water, or buying compostable things, and while this helps, I’ve read that the main problem is the companies that burn fossil fuels, or contribute to fast fashion/consumerism. What we really need to do is get them to stop or switch to different methods, but all the people in power care about is money, and because the things they are doing now are cheap and the more sustainable methods are more expensive, they refuse to switch. Despite them all being some of the richest people in the world and having too much money to even consider spending in one lifetime. I doubt using methods that won’t eventually kill us will affect their style of life too much.

I had never heard of this phrase until recently, but it is one of the many effects of climate change. So, what is it? Basically, ocean acidification in the phrase used to describe the increasing acidity of the ocean. This is due to the ocean absorbing massive amounts of carbon dioxide from human activities. The more carbon dioxide that is put out into the atmosphere from activities like burning coal for power, the more the ocean absorbs. When that happens, it raises the acidity of the water. While it may not harm humans, it causes lots of harm to the ocean life. For example, the increasing acidity of the water has been harming coral reefs. Because they are unable to adapt quick enough to withstand the sudden changes, the coral die off. This leaves many aquatic species without protection from predators. While this is only one species that is suffering, soon enough all ocean life will be killed off by the raising acidity. This could spell disaster for many societies that rely on ocean life to feed themselves or to keep them employed. That is why it is so important to take climate change seriously, and to start working as a society to reverse the effects of climate change.

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/aci … atmosphere.

I recently learned about ocean acidification, and it really opened my eyes to another dangerous effect of climate change. Ocean acidification happens when the oceans absorb too much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, mostly due to human activities like burning fossil fuels. This makes the water more acidic and harms marine life.
I think it’s important for all of us to be aware of this issue and support actions that reduce CO₂ emissions. Even small steps can make a difference when done together.

I had a similar experience, recently I learned more about ocean acidification. I had heard of it before but never fully knew what it is until last month during a science research trip to Belize where we read about ocean acidification and the effects of global warming on the ocean's ecosystems. I learned that when the ocean absorbs excess carbon dioxide it lowers the water's pH levels causing the water to become more acidic. This is happening because humans are producing Co2 faster than nature and the ocean can absorb it. Like the previous posts mentioned it is really sad how this is happening. The affects of ocean acidification are tragic for sea corals and animals as it results in a lot of habitat loss.

i’ve noticed recently that the weather where i live is changing at a rapid rate due to climate change. i think this is really noticeable because it has been flooding when it rains and the summers have been longer with more frequent heat waves and hotter weather. vancouver’s changing climate has also meant that it’s been snowing later and later every year as global warming has gotten worse. these weather effects have really put in perspective how serious climate change is and how badly it can affect the earths environment.

Yeah, in my town (actually, inmy country) I have noticed that summers last much longer than it's expected. Also, the winters are getting warmer and last shorter than previous years. I think that's the result of so much personal cars, because in every family there is at least 1 car per parent. Big amount of clothes (because we are living in consumers society) is also a problem because of a fast fashion. Those are just 2 carbon- problems, but I belive there are many more problems and causes.

I completely agree with you. It’s really scary how quickly the climate is changing, even in places like Vancouver that used to have more predictable weather. Flooding and longer, hotter summers are becoming more common in many parts of the world. Where I live, we’ve also noticed strange weather patterns—like sudden storms and very mild winters.

I have noticed the same big swings in weather where I live. Summers weather has been lasting much longer than it should, and we have extremely warm heat waves during October when it's supposed to be fall and cooling down. I agree with the fact that weather is a very clear indicator of climate change. It's so easy to see the effects our actions have on the climate and global temperatures. I also think it's crazy that there are people who see this extreme shift in weather and still deny climate change and how our actions impact the environment.

I have also noticed increased temperatures throughout more of the year in my hometown, as well as worsening disasters that cause more and more damage every year.

I think corporate responsibility means that companies should care about how their actions affect people and the environment. It’s not just about making money, they should also do what’s right. Sometimes, big companies make choices that hurt communities, and that’s not fair. We’ve learned that justice means thinking about the common good, and that should apply to businesses too. I believe companies should try to make a positive difference.

While doing my calculations, I noticed that a carnivore diet with four people produces a lot of CO2.

I agree that carnivore diets produces greater amounts of CO2 than a vegetarian or vegan diet. This is due to many things but one of the greatest contributors is the food needed to feed the animals that could have been used to just feed humans. Personally when driving past cow farms it highlights all of the resources needed to create meat.

Fast fashion is one of the issues in our society that isn't addressed properly. By buying fast fashion and following micro-trends, we not only further encourage child labor and such, but we also contribute to an extremely large portion of the world's Carbon production. Not only are the clothes from fast fashion stores and brands made of poor quality materials, but they have also been proven to contain lots of extremely harmful chemicals. On top of all that, fast fashion is intended to change quickly to fit the new trends - hence the name - which is why a concerning amount of clothes (probably worn only like 5 times) end up in landfill after they're no longer trendy, only further polluting the planet.

A few ways to stay as far away from fast fashion culture that have worked the best for me are second-hand shopping and DIY (Do It Yourself). Half of my closet consists of my relatives' old clothing items, a lot of them waiting for summer to get customized and repurposed, while my own old clothes have already found their new owners (actual people, not the trash!).
Personally, I adore DIY. The possibilities are endless, regardless of skill or experience - all you need is a vision. I've made band t-shirts, bracelets, necklaces, cuffs and other accessories completely from scratch, and I can guarantee you that there is no better feeling than wearing something you made yourself.

So, I encourage more people to try out more sustainable fashion sources: go to thrift stores, alter and customize your old clothes. Reuse, recycle, repurpose!

I completely agree with your points about fast fashion! It’s a serious issue that often gets overlooked, especially with the rise of trends. I’ve also started shopping second-hand and repurposing old clothes, and it’s been a rewarding shift. In addition, I enjoy giving my used clothing to thrift stores and Goodwill’s because not only is it a relief for me, it has the opportunity to help a lot of people. It feels good to know i’m reducing waste as well. Making or customizing your own clothes adds so much personal value. Like you said, there’s nothing like wearing something you made yourself. I definitely think that more people need to realize that fashion can be both creative and sustainable, and by encouraging creativity, I believe that more people will be captivated to give reusing clothing a try! I have been thinking about this pretty consistently, and it has made me wonder how drastic of a change we can make by incorporating DIY and repurposing fashion into our everyday lives? It would be very interesting to observe, and even more to experiment with.

A nature.com article reads that "it's estimated that a search driven by generative AI uses four to five times the energy of a conventional web search" (Crawford, 2024). Using ChatGPT, even for just a simple prompt, uses water and energy, which affects its carbon footprint. Generative AI like ChatGPT has a massive carbon footprint because it goes through energy at an alarming rate, and this is often not renewable or environmentally-friendly energy due to cost factors. Many people, especially teenagers, use ChatGPT for just about everything, from doing their homework to looking up simple questions--two tasks that can easily be accomplished other ways (such as doing their homework themselves or using Google as a search engine). This is why the question of whether or not Gen-AI like ChatGPT is a want or a need is so relevant today. AI usage has never been so common, and it's important to remember the huge carbon footprint you are leaving behind when you use Gen-AIs to look something up or complete a task.

Source:
Nature.com Article

Throughout this questionnaire, I have answered questions about what my actions do to the environment. I thought that my biggest carbon emission would be due to transport, but it was not. The food emission was the biggest contribution, with the amount of 3,465 kgs. This makes me think about how much I eat, but also what I do with my food afterward. I saw that someone also had the same outcome. My one question is, if I need food as a student athlete, what can I do to lower my food emissions?

We don't all have the resources to do big things to save our planet, like spending money on electric cars, or buying expensive heating systems that use electricity instead of gas. And that is totally fine because there is so many more different ways we can help our planet, for example: recycling and composting, when you recycle it reduces the amount of garbage that would have been sent to the landfills. Or just putting your left over scraps in a bin thats only for compostable things, that reduces so much waste that we would mix with garbage and put and put in our landfill. Other simple things we can do are: Talking to people about this topic, turning off lights when leaving rooms, taking more transit or carpooling, bringing reusable bags to the grocery store. And all those small things can help reduce the affect us humans have on the climate.

I completely agree. Nobody's forcing you to change your home's heating or invest in new cars, but so many easy things can reduce our carbon footprints. One example is taking shorter showers. Instead of taking your time and using the water for 20 minutes, you can easily reduce down to 10 minutes by going at a normal pace and using the water for a small amount of time. Another thing is powering down your laptop. If it goes into sleep mode, it's still using battery and it's technically still on. Constantly leaving it on can also cause it to have a shorter life. These are two examples of things that don't require you to spend money or make huge changes in your daily life. I think everybody needs to consider opportunities like this to lower our carbon footprints.

I really appreciate both of your points – especially how you emphasize that even small changes in our daily habits can make a big difference. I completely agree with the idea that we don’t need to make expensive lifestyle changes to help the environment. I also liked the example about taking shorter showers – that’s something I’ve started doing too, and it really made me more aware of how much water I was using before. Another simple action I’d add is washing clothes in cold water. Experts say that about 90% of the energy used by washing machines goes toward heating the water, so switching to cold water saves energy and lowers emissions. It's a small change, but if many people did it, the impact could be huge. These everyday actions might seem minor on their own, but together they can build a more sustainable lifestyle.

I agree with the idea that we don’t all need a lot of money to help the planet. It’s true that small things like recycling, composting, or turning off lights can make a big difference if everyone does them. It’s good that the text points out that you don’t need to buy expensive things like electric cars. People often think they have to do something huge, so they end up doing nothing. That’s why it’s important to talk about small steps that everyone can take. I think messages like this should be shared more often in schools and communities.

I also think that making even small changes can have an effect. I personally have thought before that i'm one person and the things I do cant make a difference. But if everyone thinks this way then we make no changes. One persons decision to make a change can be followed by other eventually creating an impact.

It's very true how small actions can make a big difference, especially when not everyone can afford expensive solutions. I agree that composting, recycling, and turning off lights are all great ways to help. One thing I would add is the impact of water use, such as cutting down on how much water we waste. Things like by taking shorter showers or fixing leaks also helps the environment out. As you mentioned, starting conversations can lead to bigger community changes and it's important to continue doing so in the future.

I like how you are emphasizing that the little things do matter. I agree, and I think that sometimes people get discouraged because they don't have the time, money, or resources to change their lifestyle in a large way. Some things I do to help are reusing containers from things like skincare or hair products, I always turn off the lights when I leave a room, and I carpool almost everywhere I go. Although these things may seem like they are making minimal impact, if everyone did this bare minimum, our world would be much better off.

I agree with you that everything matters. Many use the fact that they don't have power or money to excuse them not attempting to help, but even one person can make a difference. We all need to be advocating and raising awareness for this because we are, unfortunately, all contributing to this. I also like all the suggestions you made like composting and using reusable items. Anyone can do this and if we all did it the world might not consider this such a big problem. The reality is whether or not we have power or money, we are all responsible for doing our part.

I completely agree, especially your point about how we don't need to make big sacrifices to save our planet; instead, small, everyday actions can make a big impact. I try to do small things every day, such as turning off my lights when I leave my room and using a reusable water bottle rather than plastic ones. I also bring reusable shopping bags for groceries when I go shopping. I believe these small actions can lead to the best results in protecting our Earth, and if each of us does just one small thing every day, we will see a better future for our world.

It has become a shock to me how much the effects of having pesticides used on your lawn care can negatively affect the environment around you. Especially, if your home or business is near a body of water because the pesticides used on your lot will eventually end up in that water which can cause a huge problem like algae or other environmental issues. The website I have provided in this post can give you excellent information of the dangers and pros of pesticides on your lawn care.

https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/law … den#safely

It shocked me as well, we need to find better ways to take care of our lawns that do not affect the environment in such harmful ways. We really need to start being more cautious especially when it comes to our water sources since our Earth is mainly made up of water.

Thanks for this info i never really thought about how lawn care products can affect the local environment I will think about what we use in our yards next time

I agree, it’s surprising the impact pesticides have on the environment. Lots of them use phosphorus, and when it goes into water it causes algae to grow from lots of nutrients which can lead to hypoxia, which is when the water has low oxygen. That means that the stuff inside can die and it’s bad for the environment. An environmental article states, “Using fewer fertilizers and adjusting the timing of fertilizer applications to limit runoff of excess nutrients from farmland” (Bruckner, n.d.). So I feel like it’s our duty to use fertilizers with precaution, away from water and doing it at times where water doesn't wash it into places it can harm the environment. Thanks for posting this because it got me to think about how we can use fertilizers but try and avoid the downsides they have on the environment.

While most of us can choose when and what to eat, millions of people around the world wonder if they’ll even have anything to eat at all. Huge amounts of food are thrown away every day, often because we prepare portions that are too large to finish. It’s time to become more aware of our habits. We should cook only as much as we really need, without excess. That way, we not only reduce food waste, but also show responsibility and respect for those who don’t even have the basics.

I agree. It's truly shocking to see how much food is truly wasted throughout the world. It's difficult for me to even comprehend that the United States wastes about 30-40% of what is grown. Furthermore, I am truly disappointed when I find uneaten meals simply in the trash, knowing that there are others who don't even know where they will get their next meal. I also feel that sharing and teaching others is a great idea! I believe teachers should educate the reduction of food waste to their students, and encourage the composting of raw foods.

I totally agree. I think worldwide food waste has become a major problem, especially in the U.S. I think many Americans have been taking food for granted. The Recycle Track System states that America wastes, “nearly 60 million tons — 120 billion pounds — every year”. We need to start cooking smaller portions of food because the food industry has normalized giant portions of food that the average person shouldn’t be able to finish. I think if America adjusts to making smaller portions of food and normalizing finishing what is on your plate, then Americans could reduce their food waste. I also think that restaurants typically throw away all their leftover food after a day. So instead of throwing away leftovers right away they could hand that food out to people who need it, like the homeless. That way, restaurants could reduce their amount of food waste and give food to those who are in dire need.

I completely agree with your argument. Especially in first-world countries, food waste has become such a big problem that has yet to be dealt with because it is not considered as big of a contribution to global warming as other things such as manufacturing and overconsumption are. My aunt works in the food waste industry, therefore I have grown up around a family that really considers the inappropriate use of food, and I still believe that it has been taken for granted. Food waste has become normalized in daily life, and many people don’t realize the environmental impact it has. Your post brings attention to an issue that is often ignored, and I think more awareness and responsibility are needed to create real change. One possible solution is implementing stronger food education programs in schools and communities to teach people how to shop, store, and consume food more sustainably.

Looking deeper into the cause of my carbon footprint revealed how much the location of one’s community can affect their carbon usage. For example, living in the U.S. means long distance travel is extremely common as things are so far apart from one another. Flying for week long trips or even for single day trips happens with regularity all throughout the U.S., immensely increasing the country’s global footprint. Unlike some other nations, we don’t have a long distance travel alternative like a train, so people resort to flying, one of the highest producers of carbon in all technology. On a local level, simple things like being walking distance from your school can have a huge impact on your carbon footprint. Driving for your daily commute adds up, eventually making a big impact on carbon emissions into the atmosphere, so being smart with short distance transportation such as walking or biking, makes a big difference in the long run.

Homegrown food has many benefits. I will say two of many. First of all, it's better for our planet. It cuts packaging waste, uses fewer chemicals, supports biodiversity, and encourages sustainable eating. Second of all, it taste so much better. It is fresher and grown without long storage or transport that can dull flavor. I can confirm that because most of the vegetables I eat is grown in my garden and it taste amazing. What do you think? Can you come up with other benefits?

I agree with this take, as I think the benefits of homegrown food completely out weigh the parts to buying and consuming packaged foods. I also think another benefit of homegrown food is that it is most likely healthier than packaged and store bought foods. It provides human with better nutritional benefits than store foods, and as I can recall, when I was a child I used to eat a lot of homegrown foods, which always left me energized and left me feeling good in terms of my body, but with store bought foods it would sometimes cause me to be tired and to even be less focused during school. Another benefit I would add is that it can save people money as they can spend less to grow food on their own instead of buying it straight up from a store. Any other benefits anyone can think of?

Personally  I don’t think i could truly live without electronics.For school work is has become such a necessary about half of my assignments are on the computer. Also for communication I use my phone to communicate with my parents when i'm away from them. When i need to talk to my teacher about something,but I don't have enough time to see them i use my computer and email them. I was raised being able to go on the internet and look up stuff if i didn't know it. Having electronics has kind of been a thing for me and I think adjusting to not having them would be almost impossible.

Hi Bella,

I completely agree with you. While it is disappointing, using electronics has become a integral part of almost everyones lives. In addition, in today's world there is really no way to get around using technology as a teenager, we use it for school work, talking to friends and family, and for so many more important things. This is why it is also an off the table for me, however I still would like to think about ways in which I could decrease the amount of screens I use per day. According to the CDC, "During July 2021 through December 2023, one-half of teenagers ages 12–17 had 4 hours or more of daily screen time (50.4%)" (Zablotsky). This statistic is so sad as using screens is not only bad for the enviorment but as well for our brains. While TV usage does not have quite as big of an environmental impact as many other activities, with about 21 million teenagers just in the US using over 4 hours a day of screen time, that energy consumption really adds up. I hope to be able to limit my screen time use going forward both for myself and for the enviorment. Is that something you would be interested in?

Yes. I fully believe that humans are the main cause of climate change. The reason for this is because most of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is caused by humans. Humans cause CO2 to be released by cutting down trees for various reasons (ex. clearing land for agriculture, paper production), breeding animals for meat consumption, burning fossil fuels (ex. transportation, heating), electricity use, and so much more. I feel that if we were to reduce some of the things we do to contribute to the CO2 in the environment, then the world would head towards a cleaner and safer future.

If you are a student, you may not think that you can do much to help out, but there are many things you can do including eat less meat, take shorter showers, turn off any electrical device when it is not being currently used, take public transportation, walk, or bike whenever possible, and throw your waste in the right bins. I'm not telling you to change your whole lifestyle, but if we all try to reduce even a little bit of the things we do to contribute to climate change, then we can make a huge impact to change the outcome of the future. Try to do whatever is possible for you.

I agree with you. Climate change is 100% human caused. But I think one of the main issues is that it’s hard for humans to change their whole life styles. Since climate change is such a big and important issue, it does take immediate action but humans are hesitant to be the change and try and combat climate change. I agree that everyone should do their part in helping fight climate change, and I liked the ideas that you suggested. Some more possible ideas of specific actions you could take are planting a garden to grow your vegetables so that they won’t need to be imported from other countries and grown with harmful chemicals. Like you said, people should try and eat less meat, as the meat industry, specifically cow agriculture, is one of the leading causes to climate change. Of course it is hard to get people to change their diets, but in order to combat climate change I do think that it is necessary.

Hey there!

I agree with the most of the arguments. However, climatic change has happened in the past, such as during the ice age.  The current climate change is definitely caused by human society. As it was pointed out, it would be hard for everyone to change their lifestyle in order to reduce carbon dioxide pollution. Companies that produce a lot of products tend to be reluctant to reduce CO₂ emissions. Since the filters and other elements they would need are actually expensive. Fast food companies, for instance McDonald's, in the USA produce lots of CO₂ due to their cow stock.

I agree. Climate change is most likely caused by humans because in the past, mostly natural gasses were going into the atmosphere which allowed for them to be naturally broken down over time. When humans came into the equation, we began to cut down trees which made it so the CO2 we breathed wasn't able to be consumed and we released fossil fuels from underground that wouldn't be going into the atmosphere as quickly without us manually doing it.

Personally, the most that I contribute to climate change is by taking flights and going on vacation. I wonder if there's any way to create electric planes that are able to travel long distances so that it would be more sustainable for the environment.

I agree with you 85%. Climate Change is mostly caused by humans, with our factories and carbon emissions contributing a lot. However, natural weather is also a small factor when it comes to Climate Change. Natural disasters such as wildfires are caused by high winds, which we have no control over. The burning involves a chemical reaction where the carbon in the wood combines with oxygen, forming CO2. Overall, I think that Climate Change is caused by humans, but some natural causes contribute to the change.

Yes I do think Climate Change is mostly human caused. Climate Change is caused by the rising amount of greenhouse gases that are in the atmosphere which causes heat from the sun to be trapped in the atmosphere instead of going back out into space. This is making the heat to rise or, global warming. To answer this question fully you must understand that Climate Change and global warming are two different things. Climate Change refers to the change in climate while global warming refers to the rising temperatures of the Earth. Global warming is part of Climate Change so they are relational. Although, Climate Change is not completely human caused, natural things happen on Earth that cause Climate Change as well. Overall, I'd say Climate Change is 90% percent human's fault and 10% natural cause.

One thing that Is "off the table" for me Is my phone I always listen to music when I'm doing my work like I am right now and I need It to find out If I am getting picked up after school or walking. I also to let my parents know where I'm at when I go hang with friends. And sometimes when I don't have my laptop for school I use my phone to turn In assignments that are due or to look something up. But I have to have to charge It a lot I also have a portable charger i keep with me because my phone die's fast but It also charges fast and It take my whole lunch brake for It to get to 40% witch is pretty good.

I agree with you as I also am not willing to let go of electronics. They help me with many in my daily life in so many ways like communication with friends and family, listening to music, learning new topics, and more.

I also agree! Using electronics can be really helpful as learning and communication tools, but I, and a lot of other people, are also very guilty of having them as our main source of entertainment.As I'm getting into sustainability and the effects of our carbon footprints, I believe this is something I need to change. So while cutting electronics out entirely is off the table, I think I should at least limit how much I use them.

I for one agree that us as a population should limit our screen times so we can lower the power that goes to not life dependent appliances like showering and cooking but I also understand that using your phone can have heaps of great benefits for you like learning new things about how to be as eco-friendly as possible so there's pros and cons but I think its a good idea to be more mindful about how our screen time can affect the environment that is around us

I mostly agree with you because i need my phone for school and communication with parents or friends. However, i think i could be on my phone less. There are times when i loose track of time watching mindless videos on TikTok or other time wasting apps. I’m not saying to never go on your phone or not go on those apps at all, i don’t think they are bad i just think as a society we don’t need to be spending as much time on them. Treat those apps as down time not an all the time thing.

I agree that phone use is mostly off the table for example i need my phone to contact my parents sometimes and i think that phones are off the table for safety issues. But at the same time i think we can minimize our screen time and thus properly balance our own safety and minimizing carbon emissions. something personally off the table for me is driving, i wish i could change my driving significantly as it is a my main carbon emission source. But since my dad lives far away from my school it is necessary for me to drive a long way to get to school and other places too.

I agree because having a phone is very important if you are in an emergency or a disaster. Also, just for chilling at home, if you have nothing to do, you could learn information or build connections by texting friends. Having a phone can sometimes decrease depression or anxiety because of the number of options you have for doing stuff on your phone. Some examples of this could be watching sports games or doing the daily Wordle. Another good example of when you need your phone is if you are maybe lost in a forest, and you need to get back home, you could call someone or use GPS to find your way back. In conclusion, even though your phone is bad for the environment, it can be good to have for fun or emergencies.

Its hard to think big and try to help the world with just two hands! That's why taking small steps and making small actions are easier. There are many things you can do on your own too! For example you can, recycle, walk and bike, donate to environmentally friendly organizations, take shorter showers, turn lights off, or go thrifting! When I calculated my carbon footprint i noticed that a big percentage of my purchases number was from buying new most of the time. Buying used items is a great way to reduce our plastic waste and the amount of money we are spending. But it is also a great way to reduce the amount of transportation needed to import items from far away. Most of us don't pay attention to the shipping when buying things online, but some items can come from across the world, needing a boat or airplane to ship. And even fewer people pay attention to shipping when inside a physical store. For some items, like clothing, all it takes is to look at the tag to see where it was made. With larger and more popular stores and brands, most of their items will be shipped from other countries, especially if the store originates somewhere else. So thats why when you shop local, you have a higher chance of finding items that have not been shipped or at least not from far away. So why pay for carbon to be released atmosphere when you can spend your money on an item with better quality that is made either locally, or has already been used!

I think you make so many good points. What caught my eye in your post is the title and the idea that small actions are easier, because I think that it is so true and so few people think about it that. Climate change and our carbon emissions are this huge problem and so people are scared to try and take it on because it is so hard to see that there are smaller pictures in the larger one. And that if each of us take smaller actions that will create a larger action and that will get the ball rolling. But it is really hard to see where the best place to start is and if that information was more widespread and shared better than more people would begin to take action. For me, when I was calculating my carbon footprint a big percentage came from transportation. And in the US that is a really big contributor to carbon emissions because there is not a lot of easy access to public transportation and people have such hectic schedules that it is really hard to stop and think about carpooling. So for a small action that I think would be good to take is carpooling more. I carpool to and from my sport, and I ride a public bus to school, but there is still so much driving that I do. And it is really hard to change how much we need to drive because there are not a lot of options but if more people just started to carpool that could make a big difference.

I totally agree with what you said and I hope people eventually realize that we all have complete power over our everyday choices when it comes to helping the environment. After calculating my carbon footprint I realized that every decision I make adds up, because other people around the globe are doing the same, without even realizing. Your observation about buying locally is super important especially because most people ignore it. While online shopping, most people do not pay attention to where their items might be shipping from, but the journey it takes to get here; whether through a boat, a truck, an airplane, etc, all takes a tremendous amount of energy. Additionally, these large businesses that are selling you their products are only in it for the profit. They are not being held accountable for the fossil fuels they are releasing into the environment, nor are they putting a lot of care into their products. Converting to buying locally helps keep those selling closer to home, reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions needed to produce their product. Shopping locally also almost guarantees you are making a good purchase, knowing that these businesses truly care about its customers. If we start to understand that we can make a change with just our “two hands”, we can truly help the environment, which is what really matters.

There are  profound ways in which students can adopt the following to help to reduce their carbon footprint. One of the ways of converting it is through the transformation of physical resources to digital resources for academic work. For instance: Instead of re-printing out numerous drafts of a potential dissertation students can use online platforms and services. Instructors who require assistance to complete their work can easily look for services and get quality services while remaining environmentally friendly. Students also save trees when they use computers as they replaced the drain of energy and cutting down trees during the writing process.

I greatly agree with this statement. replacing physical resources to digital resources really could make a difference with reducing our carbon footprint by not using certain physical sources, like papers and such. Considering paper is more cheap than digital devices, do you think money could be a roadblock to this carbon footprint solution, considering some countries may not have the money to provide these digital resources? as stated in many sources, some countries do not provide money for education, like Comoros, where education spending is around 2.4% of the total GDP. In addition, At my old school, we could not afford enough computers for every class, resulting to most of our work being done on paper. Your idea displayed can definitely help many schools and students around the world reduce their carbon footprints, but I do think money could be a big factor between whether certain schools and students can or cannot switch to this decision.

source: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/25-count … otal%20GDP.

I agree, I notice that a majority of paper in classrooms comes from the mandate of notebooks, rather than online documents. I wonder how much of a difference using technology would make? I understand that it can be difficult to implement this in classrooms, because technology comes with distraction. I am curious as to how this might be solved. Technology can have a negative impact itself, and as stated above is quite costly. Is there a way to make technology more accessible, and more carbon and hydrogen efficient?

After using the I2sea carbon emissions calculator, I was pleased to find that my carbon footprint was below the average for most categories in California, except for transportation. This didn’t come as a surprise, but I was a bit confused because I don't ride in the car that often, I take the bus whenever I can, and I only went on one round trip by plane this year. I started to wonder what steps I could take to reduce my carbon emissions from flying. Is there a way to fly without burning fossil fuels and realseing harmful gasses into the environment? Additionally, the I2sea calculator prompted me to think more critically about what our school lunches consist of each day. Overall, the lunch program is pretty good; my school uses compostable plates in the main areas. However, many items are still wrapped in plastic. Even with the main food served on compostable plates, a lot of non-compostable trash is generated during lunch, and many people don’t properly sort their waste before disposing of it. This must be harmful to the environment, as the plastic can release harmful gases into the atmosphere.

The human population has been growing since the 15th century in Europe and its been growing ever since.  The population continues growing but at a slower rate. The human population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2058, if the population continues to grow, ( which is predicted to grow) the humans will out compete other species, which can lead to a lot of animals going extinct. The planet will no longer be  able to sustain the growing population and we will end up reaching the carrying capacity. As our population grows other populations of other species will drop, we will end up killing them all. As humans it is our responsibility to look after the other species that we are out competing.

I think that this is very insightful because it acknowledges that climate change is not just what humans are doing, but also that there are a lot of them. Everyone blames climate change on how poorly the human race uses our resources and makes choices that contribute to an increase our greenhouse gas emissions, but as a race we are also increasing in population, which increases our greenhouse gas emissions. We still do need to work on how much greenhouse gas we emit and make sure we make good decisions for our climate.

I just measured my carbon footprint and was relieved that most of my results were below average in all categories. Something I noticed, however, was that while all of my other categories produced less that 700 kgs annually, my travel footprint was over 2000 kgs. My cars are electric and I hardly use anything else to travel, so I imagine most of this came from air travel--that is, the singular round trip flight I've taken in the past year. I knew air travel produced a lot of CO2, but that was even more than I thought. Are there cleaner ways to fly? Is that currently something that even exists?

After doing the carbon forum, I really realized how much our actions as students can contribute to climate change. Everyday choices like how we get to school, what we eat, or how much we rely on technology can add up to huge impacts. For example, using a car instead of biking or walking increases greenhouse gas emissions, while lots of energy is used for streaming or charging devices, contributing to our overall footprint. According to the i2sea data and resources, these choices affect not only our immediate environment but also global sea level rise. Personally, I’ve started making a few changes, like bringing a reusable water bottle to school. I am also trying to reduce the amount of meat I eat. These efforts might seem small, but they are the first steps in lowering my own environmental impact. As students, we need to be responsible to be more conscious of our daily habits. Tools like i2sea help us see the connection between our footprint and global consequences, motivating us to take more meaningful action.

For me transportation is off the table, although it was my highest contributor to carbon emission. I play for a high level soccer team that is around 45 minutes away and 30 miles away. When driving there most of the time I’m in an electric car and I carpool with one other teammate. Also, mostly the only plane rides I take are for my competitive soccer team and they are often shorter distances. Although these plane rides and travel may add up and release a lot of carbon emission, it is hard to cut this out as I already limit my vacation travel and travel to see family and it’s something I am very passionate about and find a lot of joy in. It is something that I am not willing to give up yet.

Transportation, particularly flying, was my largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. I wasn't very surprised about this because I frequently take trips to visit family out of state. However, I'm not willing to give up the opportunity to see family, so that will remain a large part of my CO2 emissions. I think that taking fewer trips to see family would drastically reduce my carbon emissions, but right now, that is not something I want to give up.

Hi everyone,
Recently, I have been trying to reduce my carbon footprint because I believe small actions can make a big difference.
I started by using my bike instead of a car whenever possible, recycling more carefully, and saving energy at home.
Also, I try to eat less meat and buy local products to support sustainable farming.
It is not always easy, but I think it's important for our future.
What do you do to reduce your carbon footprint? I'd love to hear your ideas!

Hi Ivan122! I really admire what you are doing to try and reduce your carbon footprint! I try to practice a lot of those things at home too, because not only do they help reduce your carbon footprint but they also help keep you healthy. I agree that we should do whatever we can to help our environment and protect it for the future. Another thing that I really try to do is think about my water consumption and heating use. A long hot shower is really relaxing but it also takes a lot more energy to heat all that water for such a long period of time. In my day-to-day life, I personally find that I don’t mind taking shorter showers so that is something I try to do! I really enjoyed hearing someone else’s ideas on ways to reduce our carbon footprints.

Hi Ivan! I like how you are trying to reduce your carbon footprint by biking more and saving energy in you home. I have also been trying to cut down on eating meat, although my attempts have only partially been successful. After calculating my carbon footprint, I noticed that my transportation is way above the average. Although I do like traveling, I realize I should cut down on it and maybe stick to local trips to do. I live close to many good hiking trails so I'm thinking about exploring there instead. I would also love to bike more. I think your choice about biking instead of driving a car is a really great idea I could also implement where I live. Thank you for sharing your ideas to reduce your carbon footprint!

In Oakland, the city where I live, I believe that the thing that contributed most to the average persons carbon footprint  was from their home. This means that we should be working on more ways to conserve energy, and find news ways to power things that are more sustainable. These can be achieved by increased use of turbines, solar panels, and wind mills. As of January 2023, an article titled Port of Oakland Utility Green Power Portfolio Grows says that "The Port of Oakland Utility serving customers at the seaport and airport fulfills 66.9% of its power needs from carbon free energy sources, nearly double the state average." This is just the start towards a more clean and sustainable future for Oakland and then the rest of the world.

It's scary how much food we waste. Like, if we had mac&cheese for a lunch, ofcourse we don't manage to eat everything. Most of the people throw those leftovers. But for environment would be better if we kept those and eat it later. It's really not always about environment, we should be aware that many people, not only from Africa, don't have enough for a portion of rice. Like, one average meal you eat for luch can basically feed three kids. What do you do with leftovers and do you ever throw food?

I completely agree with what you are saying. It is crazy to see how much food people waste, especially in the US. An article says that the US wastes 60 million tons of food every year, which is nearly 40% of the food supply. It also goes on to say that in many cases, it is because of misread labels like "sell by" and "use by". This leads to a lot of food waste because people will toss the perfectly good food, thinking that it is unsafe to eat. To stop food waste, not just for the environment but also for people who don't have as many resources, we need to educate people about labels and make them easier to understand. Additionally, I have seen many restaurants like the Cheesecake Factory that have very large portions, and often, a lot of food goes to waste. Restaurants like these should also consider scaling down their portions to have less food waste.

I agree with this. Even at school, I look in the trash cans/compost bins and see food plates that are only half eaten. I understand not being super hungry, but people need to be more mindful with their eating habits. It's as simple as this: if you know that you aren't very hungry, don't buy a huge meal. However, we need to keep in mind the restaurants and companies that put this upon their consumers. Many restaurants give their customers portions that they cannot finish, leading to the food getting tossed. As consumers and providers, it's crucial that we be more mindful about the food we are throwing away and buying, and if it's necessary.

My Household’s Carbon Footprint – Eye-Opening Transportation Impact

After calculating my household’s carbon footprint on the i2Sea website, I was surprised by how much higher my total emissions were compared to the average in my region. The biggest difference came from transportation. My household emitted 19,210 kg of CO₂ from transportation, while the regional average is only 2,557 kg. This gap is mainly due to frequent flying. My family took 46 flights, which alone added up to over 8,000 kg of CO₂.

In contrast, my household’s home energy use was 5,550 kg (compared to 3,757 kg regionally), and food emissions were slightly below average at 2,061 kg. Interestingly, my purchases were much lower than the regional average (268 kg vs. 1,191 kg), which might be because we try not to buy new clothes or electronics often.

This data really helped me see how certain choices — especially travel — can hugely affect the climate. I think it’s important to consider reducing air travel or using carbon offsets in the future. I learned that even if I try to be careful in some areas, one big category like transportation can outweigh all the rest.

This connects with what we’ve been learning about individual action and carbon footprints. According to climate science research, transportation is one of the leading sources of emissions globally, especially in high-income countries. It’s clear that personal choices — like flying less — can make a real difference.

It is preferable to recycle all plastic bottles to store detergents or soaps

Yes,It's a very good idea!In my country there are special containers for recycling cans

I agree that it is good to reuse containers for other purposes. It helps not to throw away such things, keeping them usable continuously. In my family, for example, sometimes we reuse candle containers after all the candles are burned. We usually create or consolidate them. We also save bags for as long as possible, for store trips and whatnot. It is a wonderful idea to reuse plastic bottles, as that is also something I have done. Reusing different things is beneficial for the future and is friendlier for the Earth.

In my research, I have found that adopting a vegan diet is one way to save on the environmental impact caused by raising farm animals. Now more than ever there is a lot of healthy, balanced ways to consume a plant-based diet. One of these ways I have found was through the recipes Baking Hermann has showed me. Baking Herman is a website founded on principles of sustainability. Baking Hermann spotlights plant-based meals from around the world to show the diverse foods and meals that can be made.

Here is the website

I agree with what you are saying. I think a plant based diet helps reduce your carbon footprint a lot. Since the demand for meat has gotten much higher, farmers have been clearing way more land for there farm animals to live on as well as land to grow food for the animals. Valuable land too, a football field sized chunk of land is cleared every second for agriculture from rain forests. So eating less meat also saves our forests.

I think adopting a vegan diet is a great idea but for some people it is very hard to give up meat. Maybe if regular meat eaters only have meat 4 out of 6 day of the week it would make a big change. This would be way easier than a full vegan or Vega diet but will still have impacts. Another way could be to eat fast food burgers less because 1 burger is equivalent to 3000 gallons of water or 2 mouths showers so this would have a huge impact on water levels as well.

I 100% agree with your statements. I think that creating a plant based diet is healthy, and also it reduces your carbon footprint significantly. Although for meat eaters switching to a all plant based diet will be tough. I think that for meat eaters instead of eating meat all the time they should try and stick with a plant based diet for at least 4 times a week. Also switching to a plant based diet helps with the farmers so much, because raising these animals give a big chunk of their land so it will help them out a lot.

I agree with the idea of adopting a vegan diet will help with the environmental impact of animal agriculture, although I don’t think everyone should just stop eating meat and dairy. I think that people should cut down on their meat eating per week because some people have been eating meat their whole life’s and we can’t just tell them they’re not allowed any more. Although we can teach people more about where it comes from and let them decide whether they want to become vegan.

I agree with the vegan diet meal but it is quite hard for people who always had meat for the longest time will eventually start to adapt to having a little bit of fresh greens to having half of there meal attached to green foods.

I agree that a vegan diet would reduce the amount of carbon and even have a few other positive impacts but there are some negative impacts that should also be considered when having everyone adopt a vegan diet. In the US, in the year 2024 about 876,460 acres of land were used for farming which is a reason why deforestation happens. If more people were to adopt a vegan lifestyle then the demand for animal products would decrease and so would their populations. This would lead to less land needed for overpopulated animals who were mass produced in order to fill the demand for meat and other products. The economy would also suffer in response to this, such as farmers. Some people also require medical needs that wouldn’t work with a vegan diet and would require more supplements. Most people wouldn’t be willing to give up meat as well. Over all it all depends on the person but if more people adopted a vegan diet less carbon would be created. 

Here is the website link to the statistics on farm land:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/196 … ince-2000/

I feel like I have a lot of everyday purchases especially food so if we all cut down on our everyday purchases like food or stuff that we don't need but want like toys or video games (physical copies) then our carbon emissions would go way down as well we would have more food to help out other countries that may be struggling with hunger and we would also have more toys to donate to struggling families.

I agree with the statement about buying food creating more carbon emissions, I tend to get takeout or drinks, which can be very wasteful. I think a way to fix this here at Bishop O'Dowd is to use sustainable packaging. The muffins and other pastries are wrapped in Saran Wrap, we could use paper bags instead. The pre-made lunches come in plastic containers, an easy fix to this is finding compostable to-go plates to use instead. This may cost more and take more effort, but I think if we could make it work here, then other schools would catch on and together make a difference. At O'Dowd, some differences have already been made, like paper forks and cups; we just need to take more steps towards a more sustainable school.

My family’s home is on good soil. Land once used for vast cherry farms was plotted out into residences in the 1900’s. From when we bought our home, my father and I have planted numerous fruit trees in the backyard to replace ivy and rosebushes. In total, we have over 10 different fruits and citruses growing perennially and a rotation of tomatoes and zucchini, among others, growing annually. I quite enjoy having these trees because of the convenience and monetary value that the trees provide our family. Fresh fruit is always on the table in the warm months, and company always leaves with a bag full of hyperlocal produce. Growing our own food forest has reduced my family’s carbon footprint because the practice reduces our need to travel for food and the trees take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. For me and my family, growing fruit trees and other foods have been a rewarding and environmentally sustainable decision that gives us real-world tangible benefits.

Cons of cattle farming-

Contributes about 11%–17% of global greenhouse gas emissions
.methane and nitrous oxide released from digestion
.land use and conversion and desertification
.vast amount of food and resources being consumed
.1,800 gallons of water per pound of beef produced.

The costs of the cattle industry greatly outweigh any benefits in my opinion. It takes up massive plots of land while producing minimal meat. There are a lot more climate friendly options, like Guinea pigs that take up a lot less space and resources. Alternatively, you can pick a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Great points! I agree that cattle farming has a big environmental impact. Methane from digestion is especially harmful since it traps more heat than carbon dioxide. Also, using so much land and water for just one pound of beef isn’t very efficient. I think if more people tried plant-based options, it could help lower emissions and save resources.

One way to reduce carbon emissions at home is by using energy-efficient appliances and LED light bulbs. My family got a new fridge that uses less power, and our electric bill went down. I also noticed that the fridge runs more quietly and doesn’t get as hot, which shows it’s using energy more efficiently. Making small changes like this can really help fight climate change.

While doing the calculations to know my total carbon dioxide, I found out that a high percent of emissions was from transportation. Now that I know this, i found alternatives to lower the transportation emissions. Some alternatives are using public transportation, carpooling and getting electric cars in the future. I think carpooling is such a great alternative. Not only do you gain friendship, but you actually reduce the carbon emissions because only one car is driven. What I also found out is that my calorie intake, and food production is extremely high. Is this because of the meat that I eat? What are ways I can reduce this?

One of the main reasons my carbon footprint is so high is transportation. Even tho I personally don't drive in a car often and go everywhere by foot, my family uses their cars on a daily basis(work, shopping, running errands...). I honestly think it is unnecessary to use cars to go somewhere that is within walking distance. Im also in shock when I'm going to or from school and see a bunch of cars but every car has one person in it. If you know someone or have friends that are going to the same destination, wouldn't it make sense to drive with them? Instead of driving, I recommend going places by bike, by foot or use public transportation.

I agree! I take public transit to school every day, but because of how much my family has to use cars to get to work/ my younger sibling's school that category was very high for me. My city has things like carpool lanes on the highways/freeways but we are severely lacking in a good public transit system. I always try to walk or carpool to get to where I need to go, but because of where I live it's very difficult. I wish more cities had good public transit systems, and I think that would help with the problem of everyone individually driving everywhere.

I completely agree with both of these responses. As a student athlete I am not only driving or taking public transport to school, but driving to my out of school sports. My mornings consist of either driving to the bus stop or having my mom drive about 10 miles each way to get to school. Along with that, the traffic in the bay area is consistently bad with a usual of one person in each car, clogging the lanes up even more. Due to the amount of poverty in the Bay Area not as many people use public transport that can be utilized for limited traffic and less cares on the road. I think if we can utilize our relationships for carpool or our public transportation resources, we can help get cars off the street and limit our gas usage.

I totally agree, the amount of pollution that gets spread just by cars is unbelievable. When I was in 6th and 7th grade, my parents would drive me and my friend to school every day because of scheduling complications. Not only did it turn out to be a really fun experience, but it also reduced my friend's carbon admission in the process. It was a both fun and more eco-friendly way to travel. This video really dives deep into what we can do to reduce the amount of carbon we produce.

I learned that my eating habits aren’t that great. I eat a lot of food, but what I don’t eat I just throw in the trash. I should be composting a lot more. If I could tell everyone in the world to compost more and everyone did it, I think the world would be a lot better off. The food that we don’t eat would be turned into fertilizer which could help more food and we would have more food over a long time. The more food we have, the less people go hungry.

I agree with you. Hunger is a global problem and while we're wasting resources too much some people don't even have food to eat or water to drink. We should make our local communities collect food for those in need and give it to our city's charity so they can make meals for the poor.

I agree, I think people eat a lot of food and throw a whole meal away. I think we should use that extra food to donate it to food banks or give it to some homeless people. We can make a big change to the world if we implement this internationally.

I was really surprised to see, especially with how much meat is processed and consumed in the U.S, how much a meat based diet impacted my family's carbon footprint. My family does not buy very many material items or clothing on a yearly basis compared to other families in the U.S. and because our house is powered by solar, as well as putting into use items such as a smart thermostat, I did not think that our carbon emissions would be very high. However, because my family has such a meat based diet, it more than covered the decreased levels in the Home and Clothing emissions. This leads me to realize that with greater efforts in vegetarianism and lowering the consumption of meat could help not only the world but us and our bodies. Furthermore, with more access to farms and a turn towards a more stable and natural diet, there could also be a decrease in food shortage and hunger. Less land would be grazed by cows or used to house our livestock, instead that land could be used for more square footage of soil for growing or developing ecological solutions such as vertical farming.

In modern life, there's lots of common behaviors that are necessary to modern everyday life. Such behaviors are difficult or even impossible to give up, despite how much they might contribute to CO2 levels around the world. For example, technology. Our cell phones and computers are vital to life today, as they are very often necessary to academic settings, social situations, and more. Everyone has one, and because of their importance to our lives and connections with others, we can't give them up. I'm not exempt from this either. I often use my devices for completing school assignments and listening to music. I need to do my assignments and I enjoy listening to music, so I can't give my devices up very easily. If people wanted to challenge the systemic integration of technology into our everyday lives or minimize the pollution caused by technology, they would need a large effort put forth by a large amount of some very determined people. It won't be easy, especially when a lot of people don't even care enough to do anything about it.

I’ve noticed that extreme weather is happening more often like heatwaves, heavy rain, and sudden storms. These changes are clear signs of climate change, and they’re starting to affect our daily lives.
It’s a reminder that we need to take action and be more aware of how we treat the planet.

I agree that those signs are really important when pointing towards the effects of climate change. Some people cannot or have not yet seen the real effects of climate cahnge so they don't take action because they think it doesnt affect them. These signs are happening all over the world and it's really important to raise awarness and share them so everyone can take action against climate change.

I agree. Extreme weather like heatwaves, floods, and storms are happening more often, and that’s not just a coincidence. Climate change is making the Earth warmer, which affects how weather works. Warmer temperatures cause more water to evaporate, which leads to more rain and stronger storms. It also makes droughts and wildfires worse in some places.

I emit way too much carbon from transportation every year and. I can help by taking public transportation more often because it helps reduce air pollution and lowers greenhouse gas emissions. Buses, trains, and subways use less fuel per person compared to cars, which means fewer harmful gases are released into the atmosphere. By choosing public transit, I can help decrease traffic congestion, save energy, and contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment.

One thing I can do to cut back on my carbon footprint is that I can grow my own food, such as vegetables and fruits. Plus, I could get more exercise and learn more about plants through experience.

I would urge my family (and Myself) to take shorter showers

Public transportation is less accessible because of all the roads and highways in Oakland. The whole city is designed for the use of cars which makes it harder to take buses or bikes, which benefits car companies. We should remove some of these unescessary roads and make more bus stops and train stations to preserve energy. Using more public transport will help prevent further air pollution.

Flying is the biggest way I add to my carbon footprint. Planes use a lot of fuel and release pollution into the air. To cut down on this, I can fly less and take trains or buses for shorter trips. If I do fly, picking direct flights helps because takeoff and landing create the most pollution. Some airlines are working on fuel-efficient planes, and I can also use carbon offset programs to support eco-friendly projects. A big question is how the aviation industry can make flying greener.

I think we should have renewable energy because renewable energy is good because you can renew it. All members of the city should have access to Solar panels so we can thrive. We should also have easier transportation that relies of electric public transportation and bikes. The UN should also implement their 17 SDGs in local areas and promote, enforce these regulations.

For my city, Oakland, the highest contributor to the average person's carbon footprint is the home aspect. In our town, we should prioritize green energy like solar panels, wind turbines, etc. With help from the legislature and our government, we have the opportunity to change the way energy is consumed. The City of Oakland website tells us that Oakland ranks 5th in the 2024 Clean Energy Scorecard by ACEEE. This is a start towards total clean energy, which Oakland is working to achieve by 2045. I think all this information should become mainstream, and people from all places should have access to clean power.

I think this was a very interesting project to do to become more aware of my carbon footprint and small things that I can do to help the environment. It was similar to how we did the math project because it made me think more and still makes me think.

After taking this form, I could get a more in-depth idea of how my carbon footprint expands across almost every part of my life. From purchases to how I get to school to what I eat, I need to be thoughtful of how I create my carbon footprint. I realized that since every person around me creates the same carbon footprint, we're all contributing to carbon emissions an insane amount. I think if every person, including me, took the time to realize exactly what we're doing to emit carbon, we can reduce it.

I believe that this exercise helped my put an accurate number towards my Carbon footprint. I was very surprised with my number. But i also believe that reforms like not selling plastic packaging in schools will help reduce our areas carbon footprint.

A big contributer to the carbon footprint is flying. Alot of people have to fly for there job but sometimes people fly really far sometimes out of country. They dont realize how much Co2 that releases.

This questionnaire helped me realize how every aspect of my life produces carbon. Previously, I thought flights and heating/cooling systems contributed the most to my carbon footprint, but I was surprised to learn that food consumption was my biggest factor. I believe excessive carbon production is ingrained into our way of living as Americans. It would be difficult to live in an extremely carbon conservative way if it's normalized to produce a lot of carbon in our area.

Plastic pollution is a major environmental issue, but what if packaging could help break down plastic waste instead of contributing to it? The solution could lie in biodegradable plastic-eating inserts. Made from eco-friendly materials like algae or cellulose, these inserts contain microorganisms or enzymes that break down plastic within the packaging over time. While traditional plastics can take hundreds to thousands of years to degrade, bio-based plastics break down within months to years, depending on environmental conditions.

Hello Lucija0901,
I find this topic that you are writing about very interesting in addressing a major part of climate change, plastic pollution. I think this is a great idea, to put eco-friendly materials that contain microorganisms or enzymes that break down plastic. However, this would take a lot of resources and time in order to coordinate, since this is a large-scale project. We would need a testing stage so that we can figure out how effective this project would be. Additionally, we would first have to figure out how to coordinate this project---which would likely need large amounts of money for funding. On top of that, we would need a way to source large quantities of these microorganisms/enzymes.

Plane flights increase our carbon footprint much more than other things, and it is also very popular to go on multiple flights a year. We need to find a solution to reduce flight carbon production, or as a society take less flights in general. Is travel a want or a need? Of course travel is a great experience, but at what cost?

I think as students we need to be more conscience of our carbon footprint. This is because of the negative effects caused by climate change and CO2 in the atmosphere. For example my largest producer of CO2 was travel so in the future I will be more conscience about where I go and try to carpool or use public transportation when posibile.

What makes an electronic a want or a need? I think no electronics are truly needed, but it's just normal to have electronics like televisions, ovens, and more. While a "want" would be something such as a videogame console, or an Alexa. What are some electronics you would truly consider to be a necessity, and how could CO2 from electronics be lessened?

I believe that technology has become a really important thing in today's world. I believes phones are the single most important thing in the world because of how much we fall back on technology. it could be better if we reuse more energy. we can lessen Co2 emmisions if we start to unplug phones and laptops when they are at a reasonable charge and not using them. we can also properly recycle E-waste such as chargers and old batteries.

I think the topic of Home Grown is very relevant today. Even though I don't personally grow food at home, I see how it can make big difference. It helps people become more aware of where their food comes from and reduces the environmental impact caused by food transportation. Home growing also encourages healthier eating and can save money. It's inspiring to see how small actions like planting herbs or vegetables at home can contribute to a more sustainable future. I would like to try it someday, even if just with a few simple plants.

You make a strong point about the benefits of home growing. Even small efforts, such as planting herbs or vegetables, can help reduce the environmental impacts of food transportation and promote healthier eating habits. While I haven’t started a garden myself, I’ve read that beginners often have success with herbs like basil or mint, which are easy to grow indoors. I’m considering trying this as a first step toward living more sustainably. Have you explored which plants thrive best in small spaces or containers?

I think one of the best things that you can do to reduce your carbon footprint is to grow your own food! but when starting your own garden, a problem that I came across is choosing what to grow that will do well in your garden. I am personally going to write on the Pacific North West. First off, I would recommend growing root crops. these consist of plants like Carrots and Potatoes, really any plant that you are growing to harvest the root of. According to an article from Oregon State University "All root crops do well in our coastal climate, preferring loose, deep soil." (extension.oregonstate.edu) Personally, I have also had a good experience with growing root crops. They are quite hardy and very often actually are able to make a Carrot or Potato for example. Hopefully this helped any of you who are interested in starting to garden in the pacific north west!

I'm surprised that things like yard work can contribute to a person's carbon footprint, I wasn't aware people took care of their yards so much that it would add to their footprint. I don't have a yard or a yard so it doesn't cross my mind. I also didn't know that front-loading washing machines can effect a person's footprint versus a top-loading one. I've only ever had front-loading ones and I didn't know there is that much of a difference.

As a student in a science class, I was surprised by how high the average carbon footprint for my area was. I believe that the reason why the carbon footprint was so high in my area is due to us relying on imports instead of growing food. For example, people who live off the land most likely have less of a carbon footprint because the food they eat is organic. Furthermore, it does not have to be flown or shipped in by plane or boat, which cuts the carbon released from transportation. I believe that students can inform their peers around them about the amount of extra carbon that is released because they are buying products that have to travel long distances to arrive in markets. In short, I believe that the footprint in my area was so high because it relies on imports, rather than growing food on its own. If my peers start growing more food, we can lower our carbon footprint and help the environment.

Completing the carbon footprint questionnaire made me realize how much my daily habits impact the environment, especially in areas like home energy transportation. I was surprised to learn that my home’s heating system use contributed significantly to my emissions. In the future I plan limit transportation, lower my thermostat in the winter and suggest solar panels to limit electrical usage. This experience has made me more mindful of how small changes in my lifestyle can help lower my carbon footprint.

Students often do not think of their carbon and how much they are emitting. Students really feel that they are learning about climate change and global warming, and they often think about things that can help them, but never really take action. In today's activity, I learned how much food contributes to your carbon footprint. I was surprised that that was the biggest contributor to my carbon footprint, because I thought it was going to be transportation. Turns out, eating well and healthy can still cause carbon footprint, and the best way to stop it is to turn closer to plant proteins, and eat more natural things and if possible, even eat your own food that you produce through gardening and naturally farming.

To reduce carbon footprints, instead of using excess energy to heat homes, people should utilize blankets to keep warm in the winter. Additionally, a suggestion for the city is to improve and re-pave sidewalks and pedestrian pathways. This will encourage more people to walk instead of driving, which releases immense amounts of CO2.

I noticed that climate change is becoming a big problem, because of increasing temperatures. last  summer it was hot with very high temperatures in my hometown. some  days  there were strong floods, creating landslides not far from where i live because of the very high temperatures and some plants in my garden dried up.

I have also noticed increased temperatures throughout more of the year in my hometown, as well as worsening disasters that cause more and more damage every year.

I think this is visible where I live as well. I feel like being able to really see the effects of climate change where you live can be really impactful, and hopefully will drive people to taking stronger action against the climate crisis. Increasing average summer temperatures, more severe and frequent wildfires, and more atmospheric rivers are all effects we are experiencing in Vancouver. It can be concerning, but I hope it will help people to see how urgent this crisis really is.

I have also noticed these extreme temperatures where I live as well. I think that being able to realize the actions climate change as done to your city or town is really impactful. And as a community I hope for people to take more impactful actions against this climate disaster. And in my city Vancouver there has been increasing temperature in winter and summer and more occurring forest fires. Lastly I pray that people are gonna take action from these climate crisis.

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I completely agree with all of you, climate change is becoming more noticeable and dangerous every year. I have also seen the effects in my area, especially with hotter summers and heavier rainfall that sometimes causes flooding. In addition to extreme temperatures, I think it's important to mention how these changes also affect agriculture and food production. Crops are more likely to fail due to drought or unexpected weather events, which can lead to higher food prices and shortages. It's clear that we need to raise awareness and take stronger action to protect our environment and future.

I think the fires in Los Angeles are a very good example of the traumatic effect of bad weather due to how, even though the time of year meant there should have been rain, the fires were able to advance without restraint. We need to figure out a way to combat this, like raising money and awareness to stop people from blatantly ignoring the dreadful future in store for them.

I've also noticed global temperatures increasing. The Chasing Ice documentary showed me how much the ice caps are melting. This is the best example of global temperature increase because the visual of icecaps melting and falling away felt very real. That is in contrast to the graphs I've seen that show the temperature rise but don't show its effects.

Maybe city officials could make markets with fresh and healthy food more accessible. When people are able to eat food that is more vegetarian, organic, and includes less plastic wrapping, this reduces their carbon footprint.

I have noticed that the consumption of plants and organic foods have dropped in the recent months and around my region. These changes were recorded through this ISCFC site and explain the exact reasons and its impacts: Expensive green foods. I infer that counties and cities should lower the prices of vegetables and pre made salads so everyone has the opportunity to eat healthy and lower their carbon footprint.

Use less air conditioning and heating

Reducing the use of air conditioning and heating is definitely a helpful step toward lowering energy consumption and carbon emissions. However, to effectively address climate change, we also need broader systemic changes—like transitioning to renewable energy sources, improving building insulation, and supporting climate-friendly policies. Individual actions matter, but collective efforts are essential.

I think climate change is caused by humans because life is a simulation that the government is doing to distract us from the real world

While everyone is entitled to their opinion, it's important to separate science from speculation. The overwhelming consensus among climate scientists is that climate change is primarily driven by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. Ideas about life being a government-run simulation are not supported by credible evidence and distract from addressing real-world issues that urgently need our attention.

To be honest, I don't think it's worth it to get new things just because they're in style. For example, a friend of mine always purchased the newest iPhone model, even when his previous model was working flawlessly. After purchasing it, he continued to brag to everyone. Like many others, I am readily swayed by others to purchase items. I usually ask myself, "Do I really need it?" before making a purchase. In the majority of cases, the answer is no. I believe that the issue with overconsumption in today's society is that people find it difficult to distinguish between needs and wants while making purchases. I frequently see videos on social media of people—usually Americans, in my case—doing a "restock my fridge with me" and then filling the refrigerator full of tiny packaged products. These little packaging materials generate a lot of garbage. I've seen people purchase milk in tiny packaging simply because it had a nice cow sticker on it. Of course, that isn't true for everyone. According to what I've heard, Black Friday also leads to a lot of overconsumption because consumers typically purchase unnecessary items just because they're on sale.

Reuse and Repurpose is recycling. This is good because instead of adding to the garbage dumps we can re-use junk and keep reusing it. This is good because if we keep just throwing stuff away then our oceans will keep being dirty and the beaches will also be dirty and thats not good because sea creatures die by choking on stuff.

I agree with you absolutely. Clothes that aren't actually wearable are often reused by my family. If the clothing is cotton, we usually use it as a cleaning tool for glass surfaces. It's quite useful and efficient. Additionally, we typically use cotton shopping bags for our grocery shopping.

A city that was a lot more controlling of the citizens carbon footprint would look very green. It would have so many trees and would have a lot of solar panels. I think that I would want to live there because of the cleaner air. I have bad lung problems, and having cleaner air would be amazing for my health.

Forcing people to pay fines if they go over a certain carbon limit would probably help. It wouldn't exactly control people but it would be a huge incentive for people to reduce their impact. Maybe getting some benefit if they go under an amount.

I agree with you, that would definitely be a great solution and also fines in some big cities would help. You can also go to the nearby mountains where the air is definitely cleaner than in your town. Being in nature will have a good effect on your health. Luckily I live in a place where the air is still clean and the water is also drinkable. I find it hard to believe that I have to buy bottled water every day. I can only imagine your situation.

I definitely agree with you, but I think that you're looking at the wrong problem here. The city doesn't really get much just from the carbon footprint of its citizens, instead, they should focus more on educating them about this problem. A lot of people don't even know what a carbon footprint is, let alone how much theirs is.

In my opinion, we could clean up the streets by making a better way of cleaning the streets like adding more machines and workers to clean up trash off the streets and making a more sustainable better looking city.

You have a point. Adding more machines and workers could help keep streets cleaner, and using eco-friendly technologies would make it even more sustainable. Making trash bins more accessible and encouraging recycling could further reduce litter. Involving the community through awareness and volunteer programs could also foster a stronger sense of responsibility for keeping the city clean.

I agree with both of you, keeping the streets clen is very important for a sustainable and healthy city. Adding more machines, workes and eco-friendly technologies can definitely help. I would also suggest introducing educational programs in schools to teach young people about the importance of cleanliness and recycling. If children learn these values early, they are more likely to grow up with a strong sense of environmental responsibility. In the long term, this could lead to cleaner cities and a more environmentally conscious society.

Recycling isn't hard at all. I think an easy way to start off recycling is to buy a recycling bin and sort out all the trash that you have into groups of whatever can be recycled and that's the basics of recycling. If you really want to be environmentally friendly you could volunteer for recycling programs to help out around your area and around other places as well.

I agree with you.It helps reduce waste. Like, we produce so much trash every day,and recycling means that we’re giving materials a second chance instead of just tossing them in a landfill.That’s way better for the environment! Plus, recycling saves energy. When we recycle things like paper and plastic, it takes way less energy to turn them into new products than it does to create those products from scratch.

In my city, we sort trash (paper, plastic, glass, metal, biowaste and mixed waste). I agree that it is not hard. All the waste then goes for recycling which is very important for the planet. Sometimes I wonder if the products that I buy are made from recycled material? Recycling is very significant for the environment.

I think this is a great way to start recycling. It's not hard, you just need a recycling bin and know what type of waste goes where. We should all at least do that. I also like the idea of volunteering because that way we're not just helping nature, but also the people around us. If we all take at least a small step, together we can do a lot for our planet.

Yes, climate change is real and caused by humans, and with the years it is getting worse and worse, negatively affecting our planet and us humans. It is sad that we no longer even have four seasons — spring has become summer, while winter is more like autumn. Even if we start taking better care of the environment now, we will not stop the melting of ice and glaciers. Although we cannot undo the damage, we can still slow down climate change if we all start taking action now.

There are websites such as: https://realfood.tesco.com/what-can-i-make-with.html that enable you to enter some leftover ingredients you have (like potatoes, garlic, or onions) and it suggests recipes that you can make to use up loose bits and pieces. This is better for the planet because it means less food waste, as you are eating everything you've bought (and it saves you money, too).

I totally agree with you. This is an amazing way to use up all the ingredients that you have as leftovers. Like you said by doing this you can have less food waste and throw away less food. And if you do this you can save money, which is very important these days with the high prices of everything. I think it's also a great way to try something new and you never know you might like it.

I 100% agree with you. Most people have no idea how much food they throw away on daily basis. Using your leftovers for new recipes is a great way to lower your food waste. Not just that, but you are also saving money by not buying new food for every meal.

I really like the idea! Personally, I never knew about such websites, but now I'm intrigued. I like the appeal of reducing food waste, as people seem to throw away a lot more food than necessary. Also, I feel like these websites could encourage people to cook at home rather than eat fast food. It's a win-win for both the people and the environment.

I am convinced that climate change is real and largely caused by human activity. The evidence from climate scientists around the world clearly shows that global temperatures are rising, glaciers are melting, sea levels are increasing, and extreme weather events like wildfires, floods, and hurricanes are becoming more frequent and intense. One of the main reasons for this is the increase in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released by human activities – especially the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. Deforestation and industrial agriculture also add to the problem. We are already seeing the effects, and if we don't reduce emissions, the consequences will get much worse. I believe it's our responsibility to take this seriously and work together to reduce our impact. That means changing how we produce energy, how we travel, and even how we use and waste resources. We can all contribute in some way – individually and collectively – to protect the future of our planet.

you can grow vegetables or fruits in your own balcony or in your garden. it s pretty easy to grow it in your home, you can buy some seeds and plant them, after that, all you have to do is to wait.

Many people do not realize the amount of pollution that is related to the transportation of produce from farms to supermarkets especially when it comes from faraway countries or cities. By growing fruits and vegetables at home you are cutting out many emissions and contributing to a healthier environment. You get the added benefits of fresh, nutritious food and the satisfaction of knowing where your produce comes from. Is is definitely something more people should consider as part of a sustainable lifestyle. which will lead to a cleaner earth and healthier bodies.

I completely agree with both of you – growing food at home is a great step toward a more sustainable lifestyle. Not only does it reduce the carbon emissions linked to transporting food over long distances, but it also helps cut down on plastic packaging waste that’s common in grocery stores. I’ve been growing herbs and tomatoes on my balcony for a few years now, and it’s very rewarding and easy. Plus, it encourages healthier eating since fresh produce is right at your fingertips. Even if someone doesn’t have a garden, small-space solutions like vertical planters or windowsill pots can make home gardening accessible to almost anyone. It’s definitely a small action with a big impact!

The highest part of my carbon footprint was with my food spending.  I feel that this is because I eat a lot of foods that come in these plastic and cardboard containers, and I am increasing my carbon footprint by a significant amount.  To combat this, I can start to buy foods that are sold outside of boxes, and fewer snacks, to improve my efficiency.

To have a better understanding why your food spending is the largest part of your carbon footprint, it's not the plastic or cardboard containers but actually the meat. To be more specific it's all the land, energy, and the waste used/created by the livestock. If you want to decrease your food carbon footprint, you should buy less meat, not saying you should be completely vegan, but incorporate more veggies or less meat into your diet. You contribute to the problem as you spend more on meat, and the companies supplying are more likely to continue to supply more meat and increase the carbon release.

Hi there!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts—it's true that meat production has a big impact on the environment, and it's great that you pointed out how much land, energy, and waste it involves. You're absolutely right that reducing meat consumption, even a little, can make a real difference!

That said, your message came across a bit strongly. Some people might feel judged even if that wasn’t your intention. Maybe next time you could frame it in a more encouraging way—like suggesting simple swaps or sharing personal experiences. That way, it feels more like support than criticism, and people might be more open to change.

Still, I really appreciate the facts you shared—it’s super important to talk about these things!

When I submitted my carbon footprint I noticed that the "home" category was the highest. I think it's because I live in two homes - one with my mom and sister and then one with my dad and sister (same sister). There for, there are less people in my household for the same use of electricity and gas. Some things I could do to make my carbon footprint go down in the "home" category would be to turn off the heat at night, only use heat when it's really cold and a sweater won't fix it, turn off lights when I leave the room, take shorter showers, buy LED lights instead of incandecent light bulbs, and only run the dishwasher when it's full. I'm sure there are more, if anyone has suggestions please let me know!

Hi TeaganCR!

I really enjoyed reading your post, and it's great that you're aware of your environmental impact and already thinking about concrete steps to reduce it. It's smart that you noticed how living in two homes might increase your energy use, and you're already planning how to balance that out.

I’d just add that it might be helpful to look at the bigger picture—for example, how often you travel between those two homes and what kind of transportation you use, since that can also contribute a lot to your footprint. Also, instead of focusing only on electricity and heating, you might want to consider changes in your diet or your consumption habits. Those can often have a bigger impact than we expect!

In any case, it’s awesome that you're open to suggestions—keep it up!

Living a vegan life style may not sound like a great diet but it does more than you think. While it is very healthy and can have great boosts and effects on you it also helps with climate change. Growing these things from your house is a key way to lower your carbon foot print and greatly expand your diet at the same time.

I fully agree with you, growing our vegetables and fruits serves multiple purposes. It's very healthy for your body and it's helping save planet Earth. Another thing is that you know what your eating, buying vegetables and fruits from supermarket is risky, you don't know with what kinds of toxins it was sprayed with. I think going vegan is definitely best for nature, but only a small change like switching to growing your own food is enough to make difference if many people do it.

Recently, we have experienced hurricanes back-to-back that left impactful damages to our homes and cities. While this is an annual event that happens quite often in Florida, it is important to note the changes in the behaviors and effects within these newer hurricanes. The article https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/ … ngNewsSerp, talks about the impacts of Milton on the health of those who were affected by it. Milton was noted to reach record winds that reached up to 180 mph. It is also noted to be the first hurricane to reach up to category 6. My question is, does our changing environment and growing pollution on Earth contribute to these extreme weather cases? If so, what is casuing them and how can we reduce the impact?

I think the human have a very small contribution in the training of hurricane. This meteorological phenomene are very frequent in the mexico gulf . But , our footprint impact on earth have a lot of consequences like the melting of the ice ...

I agree with you, not only are hurricanes getting more frequent, but they are getting stronger. With the global warming the ocean is getting warmer. The studies have shown that oceans are getting little warmer each few hundreds years. That effects the strength of hurricane because hurricanes are getting energy from warm ocean water. The stronger hurricanes are one of the side effects of global warming, but I think there are more serious issues.

Hello, I live in Croatia and I need recommendations how to lower my carbon footprint. The carbon produced in my home is higher than average. In my house we use gas heating and in summer AC. We recently changed light bulbs to LED light. At home, we grow our own vegetables and fruits. The biggest problem for my family is carbon produced from traveling. In last year we flew to Paris and London and I took few road trips. How can I lower my carbon footprint to contribute reducing global warming?

There are many benefits to growing food at home, such as lower carbon emissions from not needing to drive to get the food, less use of plastic, no harmful chemicals that damage wildlife and surrounding plants, attracting natural wildlife, and if you have a surplus you can donate to those in need. https://gardeningisgreat.com/benefits-o … -own-food/

I agree with you. My family grows most of the vegetables we eat at home. It takes a lot of work but to be honest, it tastes so much better. Besides that, it's better for nature. And like you said, if we have enough, we can donate to those in need or just give our friends and other family.

Many people go hungry everyday across the globe, often because of wars, poverty and climate change. Children especially suffer the most, as lack of food effects their growth and well being. But at the same time countries waste a big sum of their food, showing how unfair the problem is. I think we need to work together as a community, share resources better and make the world a better place.

I agree with Kaydancolt! I think that we should think of others when we buy or eat more food than we need we should do everything we can to support starving children in war torn and impoverished countries rather than ourselves because they need it way more than us.

Yes Kayden you bring up a great point people are very focused on other things when there are homeless starving children out there. I think one way us as a community can help is by sending donations or emailing our government officials about this so the topic gets more known. This topic definitely deserves more attention because this is our youth the ones that can  make the change.

Yes I agree with Kaydancolt!, KPR#31 and, Hugo_2010 because I think it is a very pressing and urgent issue and I think I have come up with a way to solve it.  The idea I had stemmed from a documentary I saw cowspiracy it basically said that instead of feeding people in need meat we could instead redirect all the food that cows are getting like corn and other grains and help donate them to people in need because it is 10% more of an efficient food source than beef so that's why I think we should redirect a lot of the resources being used up on meat and give it to those who. need it.

Kaydancolt!, KPR#31, Hugo_2010 and santbuzz are all correct! Food security is a very pressing issue all over the world. Meat farming is very bad for the environment and definitely makes food security trickier for many people over the world as more food goes to animals than people who need it. many biodiversity hotspots are also being threatened by the ranching industry, such as the Amazon (the rainforest, not the company). in the amazon, one acre (about one football field) is destroyed every second. and hundreds of species go extinct per day. this means in a few decades, this carbon sink will be replaced by massively carbon emitting cows. This means more land needs to be turned into farms that only feed the ranch animals further depleting the finite area we have to make food for ourselves. This means a higher overall price of food and more starving individuals.

Yes, I totally agree with Kaydancolt. Hunger is a big problem. Many people are suffering while some people don't care about others. We need to help people, we could make donations and raise money for them or send them food. We also need to stop throwing away leftovers and make somethnig out of it so no food has been thrown in the trash. Together we can make the world a better place!

Although I do not have a garden or want to own one myself, my grandma does and I spent a lot of time in it when I was little. Some benefits to a garden are for environmental well being, it slows down habitat destruction, but also boosts the harbouring of biodiversity in the area as well. There are also some health benefits, it can relieve stress and lower blood pressure.

I agree that gardens are good for environment. My family has a garden and I agree that it is great for relieving stress. When you eat food grown in your garden, you feel proud and happy, because you know you helped environment. Growing garden is also good for your health, because you are working in the fresh air.

I have a big garden and 65% of the vegetables we consume as a family comes from this garden. We rarely buy vegetables, but when we do, we buy either organic or locally sourced. I also like working in the garden. At the moment I'm planting potatoes so in summer we can have our own.

I agree that growing fruits and vegetables is very important and everyone should do it. Having a garten is useful because it reduces carbon footprint. That is because there is no transport from field to table which would pollute the air. Growing in our own garten is also healthy because we can regulate the amount of pesticides or eliminate them completely.

I completely agree with you. Having an at home garden is a way to save money because you wouldn't have to buy fruits and vegetables all the time. Also it is safer to eat home grown fruits and vegetables seeing as we can never know what chemicals the store bought fruits and veggies are sprayed with. However, not everyone has the opportunity to grow their fruits and veggies at home(they live in a flat, don't have the space for a garden,  etc.)

Some people do not believe that their behavior partially affects climate change. Everyone is responsible for it. We must understand that we leave a carbon footprint behind us which causes extreme weather. With our behavior we can reduce our carbon footprint or neutralize it. We have to start in our own homes to prevent the occurrence of extreme weather.

I think that both of them are connected because of the pollution of our atmosphere and environment, this destroys glaciers, and other natural barriers against hurricanes or natural events that destroy environments. I also think that weather patterns are diverted and messed up due to climate change. I think due to climate change hurricanes and tornadoes hit areas that they usually would never, so the area is not prepared for the hurricane or tornado so the environment is impacted badly. This hurricane season has not really concerned me too much cause there's not much that I can do to stop it. No I do not think US citizens will take it seriously due to our severe dependence on carbon and gas and oil and fossil fuels.

I agree with you, climate change truly has a significant impact on weather conditions, which can increasingly be noticed in winter in my country, where temperatures are higher than usual for the season and there is very little snow. I believe it is important for all of us to become aware of our role in protecting and preserving the environment and to start changing our habits in order to reduce the damage and mitigate the effects of climate change, such as melting glaciers, disruption of seasons, heat waves, and so on.

Home grown is very beneficial for the environment. I think homegrown can impact the environment positively because it reduces the carbon emissions. Carbon emission trap the sun's heat which causes climate change. Homegrown also offers more nutrients because you don’t have to worry about pesticides that are on local grown produce so, you will be eating pure grown produce. Homegrown overall just helps society because it makes people less sick and helps our global warming situation.

I agree with you, home growing really has many advantages. It reduces carbon emissions and encourages us to eat healthier and grow fresh food. I also think it’s important to mention that if most people start growing and buying local food, they will support their country and local farmers.

We often go into the stores not needing to buy anything, but just for the satisfaction of seeing new things and wondering if we should buy it or not. When you are asking yourself this question, you should ask yourself this aswell: 1. Will I use it in a year or two? If the answer is no, you should put it back. 2. Do I really need it or am I fine without it? If you can live happily and find a cheaper/more sustainable alternative, you don't need the product. This can apply to clothes, toys, gadgets and such. By leaving that item in the store you are sending a message that the product is not needed in such a large amount, and the makers of that item will stop making it in such a large amount and they will reduce our carbon footprint.

We have to start making changes about saving resources such as water,electricity, reusing materials that we can use multiple times, trying to use as little plastic as possible. We must try to refuse plastic bags when we go shopping. When we wash the dishes, we should turn off the water when we don't need it. Let's not leave the TV on when we're not watching it. We can donate old clothes that we don't wear or at least turn them into rags.

I agree with everything you said. By doing these things we can help our planet and save it for future generations. Some other things that I can think of and always do is turn off the lights when I leave a room and not to leave the water running while brushing my teeth. Water is something we won't have forever, and eventually we will run out of it, so we have to be careful when using it. Like the tittle says now it's time for action because if we don't act now soon we won't be able to save our planet anymore.

Fast fashion is cheap, poor quality, disposable clothing that is produced quickly and sold at low prices. It is not something completely new and it has been around for a long time. You don't even know it but most of your favorite stores like Zara, H&M, Primark, Forever 21 and Shein that have lately been very popular are considered fast fashion brands. This has always been a big problem and today even more because fast fashion is responsible for 10% of global carbon dioxide emission. So, next time you want to shop in one of these stores think twice.

Ice melting is a major problem for our planet.The consequences are serious:sea levels are rising,habitats of animals like polar bears are threatened,and entire ecosystem are changing.We must protect the environment to stop these dangerous changes.

Many people go hungry everyday across the globe, often because of wars, poverty and climate change. Children especially suffer the most, as lack of food effects their growth and well being. But at the same time countries waste a big sum of their food, showing how unfair the problem is. I think we need to work together as a community, share resources better and make the world a better place.

I agree with you.Hunger is a serious issue affecting millions of people around the world,especially children.While some parts of the world waste large amounts of food,others struggle to get even water.We need to work together to distribute resources more fairly,reduce food waste,and help those in need.

Renewable energy sources are cleaner ways of getting energy, basically anything but burning fossil fuels. There are many renewable energy sources that we can use to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. For example, here in British Columbia, we use hydro power, which means we get our energy from water. There are many forms of renewable energy such as wind energy, geothermal energy, solar energy, and bio energy. Some well know ways of using these sources of energy are wind turbines, or solar panels. Which turn wind and sun into energy. But what if you don't have control over what energy you use? Write to government officials! Donate to organisations who work to have clean energy! If we can get the majority of the planet using renewable energy, this will lower our greenhouse gas emissions by a lot!!

I completely agree with you.Promoting renewable energy is essential for reducing pollution and fighting climate change.It's great that places like British Columbia are already using hydro power and it's inspiring to see the many option we have,like wind,solar and geothermal energy.I also believe that encouraging the government we can make a big difference.

Pollution is a major environmental issue affecting air, water, and soil. It is primarily caused by human activities like industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and improper waste disposal. Pollution harms ecosystems, endangers wildlife, and poses serious health risks to humans. Reducing pollution requires global cooperation and sustainable practices to protect our planet for future generations.

I agree that reducing pollution requires global cooperation. I think many people have a mentality that since other people wont reduce polution they wont either.

I feel very passionate about the fact that for us to calm down pollution, we all have to come together as a whole and change the things we are doing. We also have to think about other people because, in America, most people care about themselves and don't care about the people around them, which causes people to do reckless behavior.

I feel like this is an "obvious" thing to say, but It's definitely true. I think we should ask the question, "How do we convince many people on an international scale to contribute to stopping pollution?"

I like how you mentioned water and soil pollution because people are not very informed on those topics. The most discussed topic on pollution is air pollution but there's much more to it than just that. There's many more contributions to pollution that not a lot of people talk about like pollution caused by agriculture. I think that humans in general should be more educated on pollution and the way it affects so many aspects of the world from food, the ocean/marine life, air quality, health effects, and so much more. We also need to be more informed on the ways we can reduce our impacts on pollution. There's so much more to what we can do than just driving less with gas-run cars and not littering, and also the small things we can do in our daily lives to make a huge impact our how the environment turns out to be.

I agree that we should reduce pollution and that everyone needs to work hard to get someone and it will be worth it to protect or planet

I agree that pollution is one of the greatest challenges of our time.Industrial production and traffic are damaging the quality of the air and water every day.It is necessary for all of us,thought education and changes in habits to take steps towards sustainable development.Only we can make our planet safe for life.

More than half of my recorded footprint came from food because I go through like 3 gallons of milk by myself in a week.  If I went vegan or something my footprint would be below average but I just consume too much dairy.  And it's not even meat like I eat a considerable amount of meat too but nothing outside of what's considered the normal amount, plus I need the protein for working out.  On top of that I feel like it can't be good for my health, humans are the only animal that drinks milk from another animal and that just doesn't sound natural.  literally when I input dairy in the food category my total went up by like 3,000 kg it was insane

You are right. Accordingly to environmental studies, cow's milk has significant impact due to methane production which contributes to climate change. There are several better alternatives to cow's milk that are more sustainable and offer similar nutritional benefits. Oat milk, almond milk or even rice milk would help you lower your carbon footprint. Personally, oat milk tastes the best to me.

My family and I live in the countryside and have our own garden where we grow organic vegetables. We buy the rest of the food we need from local producers. We are not near any big city, so we have cleaner air, we don't hear cars but birds chirping. We also raise bees and produce honey. We have 200 beehives. In addition to the medicinal properties of honey, bees pollinate other plants, thus providing them with a good harvest. In this way, we do good for the environment, help nature instead of poisoning it, and feed ourselves and others around us with quality food grown in an ecological way.

I liked answering the questions from the carbon footprint questionnaire. it was interesting and very helpful. thanks to the questionnaire, I realized how much carbon dioxide my family produces, and thanks to the discussions during the courses, I was able to find out ways to reduce this footprint and improve life.

I agree with you, I also realized while filling out the questionnaire that my family and I are producing too much carbon dioxide. Can you share with us what ways you have found to reduce it? We recently installed solar panels on our house, and we have come up with some other ideas, such as using more daylight than electric light during the day, separating biowaste more often, and washing clothes in the washing machine at lower temperatures because that uses less electricity.

In Scotland a law was passed single so shops and supermarkets could give away single use plastic bags for free, there is a minimum charge of £0.05 for a bag
This has really encouraged people to reuse plastic shopping bags or take their own bags

I agree that charging for plastic bags in supermarkets is a good decision. They started charging for them in Croatia too, and after a while people realized how useful it is in reducing the use of plastic. I would like to point out something even more useful that each of us can do. We can reuse some old clothing material and sew a cloth bag that can also be used multiple times and is more environmentally friendly.

we all need to collaborate together for save our planet, our lives and the lives of future generations

I agree that we are all important for saving our planet. I would suggest to every country to plant more trees and to organise days when we won't use cars and planes for transport. It would be great if companies produced less plastic and paper to help our planet.

Even though my family footprint is lower than average in my region, I think that my family could do more to reduce carbon footprint. We are very lucky to have our own garden. To reduce our carbon footprint we could start using less electricity on charging phones or computers. We could use less plastic and less drinkable water on washing our car and dishes. Once we start doing all of these things, it will help our family use less carbon and be more efficient.

dont waste food

Eu si familia mea poluam destul de mult dar incercam sa mai reducem deșeurile care pot afecta natura.Ne dorim un mediu mai curat si pentru noi dar si pentru generațiile următoare.

Trebuie sa reciclam pentru a nu suferi noi și animalele

Schimbările climatice sunt din cauza poluări(încălzirea globală)
Trebuie sa incercam toți să nu mai poluăm și sa incercam sa strângem gunoaiele de pe jos sau oriunde găsim.+dacă poluam deșeuri în oceane și planeta va suferi dar și animalele acvatice .
Eu spun" Stop poluări"!

Se have to start to recognize  our needs and our wants. Our NEEDS can be:
  ~If our shoes rip,se have tò buy new ones
  ~ We have to buy food,but especially the healthy ones because they're the ones we really need tò live a healthy life
  ~If our clothes rip or start having holes in them,then we need to buy new ones
•The shoes or the clothes we buy don't have to be expensive because the price of the clothing we're wearing doesn't define what type of person we are! And in the end it doesn't matter the brand of the clothing we're wearing beacause the materials are almost always the same.
WANTS:
  ~a new phone even tho our actual one still works well
  ~buying new chlothes just because we think the ones we have are boring
  ~going shopping just because we don't have what to do.
•We don't have to spend money just because we can!
|•|Understanding what out needs and wants are can temperate us so we don't polute the environment we live in and start a better life plan for our future!

Familia mea ocupă un apartament cu 3 camere și avem multe electrocasnice care consumă mult curent. Eu sunt elevă în clasa a 6 și încerc să pun în practică principiul sustenabilității. Mă interesează să folosesc în mod rațional resursele naturale astfel încât și generațiile următoare să se bucure de o natură curată și prietenoasă.

Eu cred ca în ultimii ani oameni au murdărit foarte mult planeta dar cu puțin ajutor de la prieteni putem îngriji planeta, să reciclam pet-urile sa strângem gunoiul de pe spatiile verzi. Atenție!Nu doar noi avem de suferit, ci și animalele  și plantele. Să lucram împreună pentru o viată mai curată

Eu și familia mea nu poluăm forte mult nu folosim benzina , aruncam gunoiul în spatii special amenajate ne place natura și vrem să o îngrijim cât se poate de mult

Climate Change is a consequence of the rapid industrialisation of the world and human neglect/unawareness of pollution. The industrial revolution, while an important event in modern history, also kickstarted industrial pollution and as a consequence caused climate change. Are there any real ways to prevent it, or does the current political landscape not allow any such preventive actions to be put in effect due to the favoritism showed to corporations, industrialists and how they see these preventive actions as 'non-beneficial'?

I think before buying anything to see if you need it at all. here’s an example Max needs to buy shampoo he sees the one his mother told him to get, but he sees the one everyone has and has been told is the best shampoo they got so he buys the more expensive shampoo in instead of the one his mother told him to buy because he thinks the more expensive on is better

I think I would agree because the difference between a want and a need is something very important because just because you want it doesn't mean it will be the most efficient and the most useful for that I need just because I could use it or it is what everybody has.

This is a good example of a want and a need. Some people want to get a soda with the money they have, but they need to get water. You have to get what you need so that you can survive. But then the environmental safety aspect comes into play so you need to get something that you can refill.

I think this sends a good message about wants and needs, and I agree with choosing a needs over a wants. But one problem I see with this is how people are attached to their wants. With how many luxury items people have, it may be difficult to remove their wants. For example, let's say Billy has a Nintendo switch and playground outside in his local park. The Nintendo switch will increase his carbon footprint but the playground will not, but for Billy it's hard to leave his Nintendo switch for the playground. The main problem is if people are willing to cut out their luxuries for lowering their carbon footprint.

The goal for luxury items and ecological footprints is not to get rid of all the things that increase your footprint, but to simply lower how often you use it. At this point of time, humanity is never going to get rid of these luxury items. Billy can simply slowly spend say thirty minutes at the park, and then the rest of his time on his switch. Every week, he can increase how often he goes to the park, perhaps liking it more. Another example of slowly getting rid of a luxury item is a car. Say Billy drives to the park. He can bike there, once a week. Then the next month, twice, and onwards. The same slow acclimation can be applied to switching diets, or really anything. Changing our world isn't going to be fast, and so is using certain things over others.

Something

The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, located in a developed coastal area of the United States, focuses on marine conservation and environmental management. In contrast, the Mi Teleférico Cable Car Project, situated in the mountainous region of Bolivia, primarily addresses urban development challenges by enhancing public transportation. These case studies highlight how projects can differ significantly based on regional context and sector-specific objectives.

ok

In the shadow of Magic Johnson’s retired jersey and in the building Kobe Bryant made famous, LeBron James made his case for immortality. An 18-foot fadeaway jumper late in the third quarter Tuesday officially established James as the greatest scorer in NBA history, and as the celebrity-sprinkled, sold-out crowd roared its approval, many would admit: They were acknowledging the greatest player the league has ever seen, too.

The GOAT debate will always be a subjective one, fiery conversation for barrooms and barbershops. Michael Jordan supporters are entrenched in their position. Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, faces of an earlier era, have plenty of advocates, too. Each has a compelling case. Russell’s championships, Jordan’s perfect Finals record, Wilt’s staggering season averages. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, seated courtside Tuesday, mastered a seemingly impossible shot. In 20 NBA seasons, though, James has done more.
Four NBA championships. Four MVPs. More points in the playoffs than any player in NBA history. And now Abdul-Jabbar’s nearly four-decade reign as the NBA’s regular-season scoring king is in the rearview mirror. Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring title was once considered one of sports’ unbreakable records, like Joe DiMaggio’s hitting streak or Wayne Gretzky’s career points total. James, a self-styled pass-first playmaker, has eclipsed it, and there is no telling how much distance he will put between them.

“Impact?” asked Lakers coach Darvin Ham. “Man for man? I think he’s at the top of the list.”

Indeed, James’s statistics are astonishing. He has passed Abdul-Jabbar and is more than 11,000 points ahead of any active player behind him. Just last week he leapfrogged Mark Jackson and Steve Nash, generational playmakers, on the all-time assist list. He has more career rebounds than David Robinson and Ben Wallace. He ranks in the top 10 in steals with an outside chance to pass Clyde Drexler on the list later this season.Jordan backers will point to Michael’s sterling 6–0 Finals record, but before Jordan was beating up on Seattle, Utah and Phoenix in Finals series he was getting wiped out by Milwaukee, Boston and Detroit in the early rounds of the playoffs. Jordan’s Bulls were the betting favorites in each of their Finals appearances while James routinely went into them on the other side. That isn’t meant to marginalize Jordan’s accomplishments as much as to acknowledge James’s 4–6 Finals mark is more impressive than it looks.

Critics will say James cherry-picked rosters, that Ping-Ponging between Cleveland and Miami before settling in Los Angeles somehow diminishes him. But Jordan didn’t change teams because Jordan didn’t have to. He had a Hall of Fame GM in Jerry Krause who identified the talent in Scottie Pippen and brought John Paxson, Horace Grant and Dennis Rodman to the Bulls. He had Phil Jackson on the sideline and an offense tailor made for his talents. James has cycled through a handful of coaches, countless teammates and more than a few systems and has been the driving force behind at least one championship at each of his NBA stops. His five buzzer-beating playoff game-winners are the most in league history—two ahead of Jordan on that list.

James has played five more seasons than Jordan, which in the great GOAT debate is often used as a cudgel. Perhaps James’s peak years can’t match Jordan’s, but his twilight has far outpaced him. Jordan spent his late 30s in a Wizards uniform, racking up numbers for a team going nowhere. The Lakers have struggled this season, but no one would dispute that with better health and a better roster James is still capable of leading a team to a championship. In a postgame interview James reiterated his intention to play “a couple of” more seasons and there is little reason to doubt that James, 38, can’t play at a high level well into his 40s. He wore a white headband on Tuesday, because “that’s where the journey started” and two decades in it appears far from over.

The debate isn’t settled, because it will never be settled, no matter how many points James scores, no matter how many championships he wins. “I can’t take anyone over me,” James told reporters Tuesday and most objective observers wouldn’t, either. One of the NBA’s biggest winners who became one of the NBA’s best playmakers is now its all-time leading scorer. That’s great stuff. GOAT stuff.

Lebronismydad how does lebrons career co exist with the question "What big and bold ideas do you have for reducing personal, community, country and even global carbon footprints? ". Please next time say something that actually goes with the question.

Julien Lebron is the one of the biggest humans in the world, his athleticism and beautiful touch around the rim shows how with his influence can save the world.  Also Lebron clears Micheal

I understand what your trying to say buddy but I think that Lebron ain't even that good we all know Michael Jordan is better.

Daddy chill

Saying "Daddy chill" in the context of a serious conversation about climate change is highly inappropriate. Climate change is one of the most urgent and impactful issues we face globally, and dismissing it with a flippant or disrespectful comment undermines the gravity of the situation. It's essential to engage in these conversations with respect and understanding, as they affect our planet's future and the well-being of all living creatures.

Yes, climate change is real and caused by humans. Evidence shows rising temperatures, melting ice, and more extreme weather events. Activities like burning fossil fuels, cutting down trees, and pollution have increased greenhouse gases, which trap heat in the atmosphere. I’m deaduzz.

I totally agree—climate change is a pressing issue, and human activities are a big part of the problem. The evidence is undeniable, and it’s alarming to see how quickly things are changing. It’s also wild how connected everything is, from the way we use resources to how ecosystems are being affected. But we still have time to make a difference if we take action now, even if it feels overwhelming at times. How do you think we can push for more change, even on a smaller level?

You're right, the interconnectedness of everything is crazy to think about! Even small actions can make a big impact when it comes to pushing for change. On a smaller level, we can start by being mindful of our personal consumption—things like reducing waste, supporting sustainable businesses, using public transport, or even planting trees. It all adds up. But beyond that, pushing for policy changes is key. Voting for leaders who prioritize climate action, supporting local environmental initiatives, and advocating for stronger regulations around emissions and deforestation can make a huge difference. What do you think—what small changes do you find most effective?

I love your point about how small actions add up! It really does feel empowering to realize that even individual choices can create a ripple effect. For me, some of the most effective changes have been reducing single-use plastics and opting for more sustainable alternatives. Also, I’ve been trying to support businesses that have clear sustainability goals, like those using renewable energy or eco-friendly packaging. Another small change that’s made a big impact is trying to reduce food waste by planning meals more carefully and using leftovers creatively. It all feels like a step in the right direction, but you’re right—policy changes are key to making systemic progress. Do you have any tips for making sustainability a bit easier in everyday life?

I love that you're focusing on reducing single-use plastics, supporting sustainable businesses, and tackling food waste! Those small changes are definitely a huge step in the right direction. Making sustainability easier in everyday life can sometimes be about convenience, but with a few tweaks, it can feel more manageable. Here are a few tips:

1. **Streamline your shopping**: Keep a list of eco-friendly products you use regularly, so when you shop, you can easily choose the sustainable option. Things like bamboo toothbrushes, refillable cleaning products, and sustainable food storage can make a big difference.
   
2. **Invest in reusable items**: Reusable bags, water bottles, coffee cups, and even produce bags can help you cut down on waste. Having these items ready to go makes it easier to avoid single-use plastics when you're out and about.

3. **Buy in bulk**: This one’s great for reducing packaging waste. Bulk buying grains, nuts, and cleaning supplies helps minimize plastic use. Plus, it usually ends up being more cost-effective in the long run!

4. **Compost if you can**: If you have a garden or even just a small space, composting food scraps can be a game-changer. It keeps waste out of landfills and provides you with nutrient-rich soil for plants.

5. **Support local and seasonal foods**: It’s not only fresher and often more affordable, but buying locally produced, seasonal food reduces carbon emissions from transportation.

I think it’s all about making small, incremental changes that feel natural and manageable, while also staying mindful of the bigger picture. What’s one area you’d like to focus on making more sustainable this year?

yessir! SHEESHHHHHHHHHHH boi this is an epic bruh moment. REEEEEEE- perfectly cut scream???

Food

Favorite Food?

just hop over the border

Bro this is extremely inappropriate delete this right now!

This is very inappropriate and I am not proud of you for doing such a disrespectful comment based off of someones race

Why I Feel Disrespected When Someone Says "Mexican Border Hopping"

Words carry weight, and the way people use language can reflect deep-seated biases, misconceptions, and even outright discrimination. One phrase that I find particularly offensive and disrespectful is "Mexican border hopping." This term is not only derogatory, but it also perpetuates harmful stereotypes, disregards the complex realities of immigration, and diminishes the humanity of those involved.

The Disrespect in the Phrase

The phrase "Mexican border hopping" is inherently disrespectful because it reduces an entire group of people to an illegal action. It implies that Mexicans are simply sneaking across the border as if it were a casual or playful act, rather than acknowledging the desperation, danger, and complexity surrounding immigration. It strips people of their dignity and fails to recognize their struggles, sacrifices, and motivations.

Furthermore, the phrase often carries a mocking or dismissive tone, suggesting that people who cross the U.S.-Mexico border are merely rule-breakers or opportunists rather than individuals seeking safety, stability, and a better future for their families. By using such language, people contribute to a culture of dehumanization, where immigrants are not seen as individuals with dreams and struggles but rather as a problem to be dealt with.

Perpetuating Harmful Stereotypes

One of the most damaging aspects of the term "Mexican border hopping" is how it reinforces negative stereotypes about Mexican immigrants. It feeds into the false and dangerous narrative that all or most Mexicans enter the United States illegally, ignoring the reality that many come through legal means such as work visas, student visas, or asylum applications.

Moreover, the phrase promotes the idea that Mexican immigrants are inherently lawbreakers, which fuels discrimination, xenophobia, and even hostility toward anyone of Mexican or Latino descent. These stereotypes have real-world consequences, leading to racial profiling, workplace discrimination, and even violence against immigrants and their communities.

Ignoring the Realities of Immigration

Immigration, especially from Mexico and other Latin American countries, is far more complex than the phrase "border hopping" implies. Many individuals and families make the heart-wrenching decision to leave their home countries due to factors like poverty, violence, political instability, and lack of economic opportunities. Many asylum seekers are fleeing persecution or life-threatening situations, seeking refuge in a country that promotes itself as a land of opportunity and freedom.

By using dismissive terms like "Mexican border hopping," people ignore the struggles and traumas of those who migrate. They fail to acknowledge the immense risks immigrants take, from crossing treacherous terrain to facing exploitation by smugglers and corrupt officials. Many immigrants endure harrowing journeys, often losing their lives in the process. Reducing these profound experiences to a flippant phrase is not just disrespectful—it is cruel.

The Need for Respectful Dialogue

Language shapes perceptions, and the way we talk about immigration matters. Instead of using derogatory and demeaning phrases, we should strive for respectful, accurate language that reflects the humanity of those involved. Recognizing the challenges immigrants face and treating them with dignity can foster more compassionate and productive conversations about immigration policies and reforms.

Rather than calling someone a "border hopper," people should acknowledge them as an immigrant, a person seeking a better life, or someone navigating a broken immigration system. When we choose our words carefully, we contribute to a more inclusive and understanding society.

Conclusion

Hearing someone use the term "Mexican border hopping" is not just offensive—it is a reminder of the deep-seated prejudices that exist against immigrants. The phrase dehumanizes individuals, perpetuates harmful stereotypes, and oversimplifies the realities of immigration. Instead of using divisive and disrespectful language, we should engage in meaningful discussions that recognize the struggles and aspirations of immigrants. Respect starts with language, and by being mindful of our words, we can work toward a more just and empathetic world.

WHat going on

Remi, I understand your perspective, but I think it’s important to look at this issue from a broader context. While it's crucial to be mindful of the language we use, I don’t think the term "border hopping" was intended to dehumanize or disrespect anyone. People often use it to describe the illegal crossing of borders, regardless of nationality, without meaning to target any specific group of people. It's not denying the struggles immigrants face, but rather pointing to the legal aspects of immigration. The conversation around immigration is complex, and sometimes language reflects that complexity. By focusing on the action itself, people are addressing concerns about border security and the legal process, not aiming to dismiss the humanity of individuals seeking a better life. However, I do agree that we should strive to have respectful and open conversations, where we acknowledge the broader challenges people face.

I appreciate your perspective, and I completely agree that the language we use when discussing immigration is incredibly nuanced. You're right that terms like "border hopping" can often be used to refer to illegal border crossings without necessarily intending to disrespect individuals. The challenge, though, lies in the broader context—sometimes language can unintentionally reduce complex human experiences to simplified actions, which may contribute to the dehumanization of those involved.

Guillrmo I think it’s important to balance addressing legal concerns, such as border security, with empathy for the human stories behind immigration. The individuals who seek better lives often face immense hardships and risks, and it’s crucial to keep that in mind as we engage in these conversations. Language shapes perceptions, and as you said, maintaining a respectful dialogue where we acknowledge the broader struggles people face is key to fostering understanding. Ultimately, it’s about creating a space where legal discussions and humanitarian concerns can coexist, without losing sight of the humanity at the center of the issue.

I believe that I could eat less cheese, which comes primarily from cows that produce methane from their bodily gases.  Along with cows, eating less steak and beef would help slow climate change, as less use of cows means that the farmers will need less and therefore there will be a decrease in the methane released in total.

Because you got to fill in the things you want to continue moving in life.

I’ll be willing to cut the water waste. I take a shower in the morning to get ready in the morning then I shower at night. My showers at most are up to 15 minutes. Challenges could be staying clean, I take two showers usually because I'll start to smell like every other person. I also run a lot which causes me to smell so I shower for that as well. So my wanting to stay clean is gonna outweigh trying to help the environment. My parents would probably want it and I could just use more deodorant and calones.

OK so here's the thing. I don't really get anything new regarding technology. I got my first phone around my 11th birthday. I'm 14 now turning 15 and my ancient IPhone SE just broke, so guess what I got? A hand me down that wasn't used except by someone else, who, just got a different phone and didn't want to use it anymore. I never had technology other than that phone of mine unless it was the school Chromebooks that I was given to protect with my life. So I never really got a new model, and if anything I got a model DOWN form my old one, if that's even possible. The phone I have now is ANCIENT, and when I say ancient, I mean it. I've never gotten the new model or anything so that really wasn't a need, it was a want. But I'm a busy person and needed to stay in contact with my family, so in a way it kind of was a need in a certain way. And if I did get an upgrade I probably wouldn't have considered the environmental impacts they had. It was something I wanted and something I had, so I would use it and not consider what it could do to the environment. If I was addicted I don't really know what I would do to get off of it. I kind of need my phone for EVERYTHING I do so it would be really hard to try to change that.

When I took the survey and saw that my carbon footprint is so much less than that of others, I thought to myself, "Wow, I must be doing a really good job!" But then came the difficult task of thinking about my whole family combined and what we could or should do differently to use less carbon. I started doing some online research and found out that there are a couple of things that me and my family could do to make a difference. To start, we could start using less electricity which includes thermostats, charging phones or computers, or even using less TV time. We could use less paper and plastic and start saving them and recycling them when needed. Using less water is also a big factor because since I have such a big family we use a lot of water, so trying to filter it and save it without using plastic is a big factor. But the one thing that would be very helpful is making our own garden. It doesn't take too much money and since we are very big in eating fruits and vegetables, we always spend a lot of money on having to buy them from stores. Instead, we could just make our own garden and have them freshly grown to our own desire. Once we start doing all of these things, it will help our family use less carbon and be more efficient.

I want to bring up planes. I think planes are very important for life because they allow you to travel all around the world in just a few hours. I think planes are great but I think we should change something about them. We need to change the fact that planes are major polluters. Planes remain among the most polluting means of transport and something needs to be done. I propose electric planes. I have no idea how one would go about doing this, but this is just a suggestion. I want to bring this up because personally I travel and go on airplanes a lot and in return, I pollute a lot. This year, I calculated my carbon footprint and it said that it was 25,784 kgs of CO2 per year, compared to the average in California; 9,727 kgs of CO2 per year. You might be wondering why my carbon footprint is so high. It is because I travel so much. 18,311 of the 25,784 kgs of CO2 was from transportation. So overall, I think something needs to change about airplanes because I want to keep traveling but I dont want to be a major polluter.

I think create electric plane is a good idea but is almost impossible because autonomy of airplane would be greatly reduce and the weight too much .

i think that it will be hard to make an electric plane but i agree that it would help

i agree there is so much more we can do for them but there are other factors we need to account for like the political and governmental fashions. there to much on their hands right  now to help them but they have been doing the best they can throughout the people's struggles

From the article “ Introduction: Reuse, Recycle, and Repurpose: The Afterlives of Japanese Material Culture” by Halle O’Neal the action of reuse and repurpose is focused and explained.
As defined within the article, “To reuse, recycle, or repurpose an object often necessitates repairing that object so that its usefulness can continue.” By completing the action of repurposing an object this will help allow in a decrease of trash buildup. Not only does it help with decreasing waste but the reuse aspect allows for that object to continue to be useful in a variety of ways.

https://journals.publishing.umich.edu/a … e/id/3985/

I really like this idea, not only does it cut down on waste but it could potentially give the item a new home and purpose.

This idea could save countless things used for the materials we need and use the old things and repurpose them to be used in the new ages.

YEAH I AGREE DUDEEEEEEEEEEE!

Thinking before buying something is really important as, buying things you really don't need just increases your carbon footprint which is unfair for our environment as well. Spending over your budget also can lead yourself into difficult situation. It can also put you in financial issues too so that's why making the decision "is it worth it" or "do I really need it" is a good thing to think about before making a purchase.

I agree that people should think before buying certain items, especially when items might have a large carbon footprint. For example, people should think before buying new articles of clothing because fast fashion is one of the leading causes to climate change. People don’t need new clothes, but since trends come and go quickly, people are always buying new clothes which they only wear a couple of times, and then throw out. Also, items have a carbon footprint before you even buy them. Items like clothes and exotic foods are imported from all around the world and have a large carbon footprint from being transported by boat or plane. People should think before they buy new items, not only if they truly need it or if it’s just a want, but also if the item has a large carbon footprint and if it will be put to good use by the purchaser.

I think before you go shopping you should see if it’ll affect your day-to-day life.  Like let’s say clothes, if you don’t see yourself wearing this commonly (Besides suits and dresses) why waste your money or time?  Or food, if you're not going to eat it, why get it?  That’s why you shouldn't go shopping when you're hungry.

I'm pretty darn proud of my house

whoa how did you get the smiley face?

oh, okay I see

That's a low Kgs!

nice!

Wow, I am very impressed, one of my categories is 6,000 kgs of Co2.

But not the total.

I got 20890 kg of Co2

Do Lights really need to be on during school hours?

he is not necessary to open the lights during the school day because we will pay a high bill while the day we have the sun for enlighten us

Rooms such as the bathrooms (which at my school don’t have windows) needs lights in them, as well as most hallways and gymnasiums. But I do think that some rooms in the school should have their lights out, such as regular classrooms. On sunny days, the classrooms at my school are well lit and I find that I prefer when the lights are off because it creates a calmer environment with dimmer lighting. But not every school is the same and some classrooms have small windows, which wouldn’t let in enough light. And often where I am from, it is rainy or cloudy so without the lights on in the classrooms, it can get very dark. Instead of focusing on the lights at school, teachers and school administrators could try and switch from doing schoolwork on paper sheets to working more online. This would reduce the remand for paper and cut down deforestation, which is one of the leading causes to climate change.

Some rooms need lights but lots of times lights are unnecessary especially since we’re in the middle of the day while we’re at school.  You’d probably need better windows and other stuff.  But yes they do because say there is bad weather you’ll need to have them because what light is the sun going to shine?

I would make my home energy efficient by using LED lights, using electric internal heating and cooling, and electric appliances. I would get my energy from hydro electric dams because in BC energy is created with water. I would choose to live near public transit so I can commute to places I would need to go to like school or work in the future. I would get my food from grocery stores that have lower carbon footprints like Whole Foods or Costco.

These are all great ideas to lower your carbon footprint! Some more suggestions would be to eat less meat and cow products, as animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of deforestation and climate change. And not only can you use public transit or carpool to get to school and work, but you could also choose a method such as walking or biking. You can also re-wear clothing items that you own instead of contributing to fast fashion and buying new clothes every time a new trend comes along. And after clothes are no longer useable for you, you can upcycle them and turn them into something new! For example, you can use old t shirts to make dish clothes. These are just some of my ideas.

I think that home grown gardens are excellent and have many benefits. When you have your own gardens, it eliminates the need to travel anywhere to get your fruits, herbs and vegetables. and when you grow your own garden, you have control over what you put in your garden. For example, you can avoid fertilizers and pesticides which can increase greenhouse gases. When you have a home-grown garden, it could also reduce the amount of packaging because you don't need to package your garden foods while in supermarkets they are sometimes packaged. Having a home-grown garden also can make the air around you fresher because the plants absorb the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Overall, I think that home grown gardens are a great way to lower your carbon footprint.

I agree! Not only does it benefit you to plant your own garden, but it also benefits the environment by supporting pollinators and native plants. You wont need to travel to get your own fruits and veggies and you can be sure that the plants you consume are free of pesticides and insecticides. Planting your own garden will also impact the environment positively, especially if you plant native flowers. This will help native pollinators by providing them with native flowers to collect pollen from, and then the pollinator will help the flowers reproduce, creating a healthier ecosystem. Also you can cut back your carbon footprint! Often fruits and vegetables are grown at some farms that produce harmful chemicals to the environment, or they are imported from other counties via boat or plane. People should start to grow their own fruit and vegetables, or at least plant some native flowers to support local pollinators.

When my professor asked us to calculate our carbon footprint, I was pretty shocked. I could not believe how big my family's carbon footprint is. So, when we were asked to do this assignment the idea of how my family could reduce their carbon footprint really interested me. I found this article that shows a bunch of different cool ways to reduce our footprint. Such as using less paper, growing our own vegetables and even watching what our thermostat is set at!
https://amerisleep.com/blog/reduce-fami … footprint/

That’s very interesting and I agree that it is startling at first seeing the numbers on paper. I think every one in school should have to do a project that includes calculating your carbon footprint it really puts things in perspective and helps you personally relate to the global issue of climate change. For me it really motivated me to find solutions to lower my carbon footprint. There are lots of ways to lower it, some are expensive and some are equally as effective and cost nothing. I would suggest  to start out find what actions in each category (food, transportation, home energy etc, purchases) have the biggest impact and do what you can to change those. This will help you chose your battles and make the biggest dent in your carbon footprint with the least amount of change. For me one was not knowing I could bring reusable containers to get takeout in. Another one was how and how often I wash my clothes. What ever you chose to do even a small change is a step in the right direction for the whole world.

My family produces 116454 kgs of CO2 a year, which is pretty bad. I would like to change that by turning off the lights more often, and to using less lights in our house.

I would like to reduce this number, but I don't know if turning off lights will work. Does anyone have any other ideas?

My biggest thing on my carbon footprint was transportation. You could try biking and/or walking to more places. If this is kind of hard to do, you could try carpooling more or taking more public transportation. Also, I don't know very much about this, but I think turning off the lights when not in use does something. So make sure to still turn off lights and electronics when not in use.

I feel as though we should turn off lights more often in my household. My brother leaves his light on almost all day! I try my best to remember to turn off the lights, but sometimes I don't remember to, so I think I can change that:)

Well, I already bike to school, but yeah, I think I'll start turning off the lights in my house WAAAYY too much. ...

Well how often do you use a heater? If so in the winter you could layer and put on blankets it works has well a heater hope this helps!

Hey! That's a good idea, thanks!

These are all great ways to lower your carbon footprint.I found that food was a big contributor for mine as well as transportation. For food i think it would be great to make sure you use all the food in your home and if some seems to be rotten, there are some great recipes on the internet for food scrap meals and use them as leftovers. Another great way is to buy locally whenever you have the option, although it is hard to find local shops if you live remotely.It is important to conserve water. Reducing shower times and using more cold water will save you money and not effect your carbon footprint as much.

Yeah! I'll try that!

I have noticed significantly different trends in global carbon footprint averages. I think that the climate, social norms, economic status, environmental consciousness of the nation in which you live are all important contributing factors. For example, where I live in Vancouver, the average carbon footprint for students at my school is 8,844. This is around average for most of the world, but for some places, for example compared to some schools in California, it is extremely low. I think part of this has do with the fact that are more wealthy than the average person where I live, so they fly much more than average. Also the average purchases are much higher, likely because they have more money to buy things. Also, in much more extreme climates, you use more carbon to heat homes. In dense cities, the carbon footprint for transportation is lower than rural areas, because it less walkable, and longer distances are travelled every day. These are just a few thoughts on why carbon footprints vary so much globally.

Hi tivakc! I agree that your carbon footprint varies for where you live. A big contributor of the difference of our carbon footprints to the places I think is transportation.Where I live transit is a big part of the city and there are so many options to walk ,bus, and sky train.But for example in more rural areas they can only drive to get simple things like groceries or to get school. I think it’s important to factor in what is accessible for others in different cities instead of just judging people for what parts they play in climate change. It would be great if all cities had transit, locally grown food, and a fresh water supply. Does anyone have any ideas of what we can change in our communities to make things more accessible?

I know that everyone likes ice cream, milk, Mac n' Cheese, and just cheese in general--- but have you ever thought about how it affects the climate? Cows--- the source of all our dairy--- release methane, a global-warming inducing chemical, through their digestive system.(As in, when they b*rp or far*...) Personally, I am the only dairy eater in a lactose-intolerant family, but I still feel that we could cut back on the dairy so that farms don't breed cows so much, and so (Hopefully) the amount of methane going into the atmosphere will reduce. (Lactose-free ice cream is good, people!) This is just a thought, but personally, I will try to cut back on the dairy. A pebble in the ocean still creates a ripple! Thanks for hearing me out, and if anyone has any other ideas that don't involve giving up cheese for the sake of the world and reducing methane, I'm all ears!

Yes, I agree with everything you are saying but I also think it is important for people to realize the other impacts of eating dairy or even the animal agriculture busyness in a whole. Yes, cows producing massive amounts of methane is a problem. But we can reduce the amount of methane that cows produce by feeding them what they are originally built to be fed. Grass. The main reason we need to cut back on dairy and meet products is because grazing for animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of deforestation all across the world. Because of the space needed to grow the grain they eat, thousands of acres of forest are being destroyed ever second. And because the amount of water used to water the grain fed too the cows and the amount they drink in a lifetime before they are slaughtered eating one hamburger is equivalent to taking a shower for two months. So yes cutting back on ice cream, cheese, milk and meet can all help there is a bigger problem that not a lot of people have been educated about.

I feel like humans want to buy things that are their wants and cause them to impulsively buy an item but that really is just a waste of money and increases your carbon footprint and if you keep impulsively buying things it could lead to overconsumption. Some good ways to be mindful about your purchases are to have a checklist and ask yourself questions to see if you really want it or not.

yes, I think humans are the cause of climate change. Before the industrial revolution, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was low but during the industrial revolution the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere rose up a lot and the climate started to change and get warmer. Humans did actions such as burning fossil fuels, and deforestation which warmed the earth at a higher rate. Agriculture also creates a big impact on climate change. for every second that passes, about 1 football field of forest is cut down for agriculture. most of the crops are grown for animal feed. Animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of climate change. The demand for animal products is high, they have to raise a lot of animals. The animals eat and drink a lot, and they produce a lot of methane which is 80x more harmful than carbon dioxide.

I would be more likely to live in a city with more options of public transportation, like more frequent, trams and more skytrains. Some additional things that could be added are more frequent buses on busy routes, additional skytrain lines that service busier parts of the city, and electric trams that service smaller neighbourhoods. This could give people options to take public transit rather than driving to somewhat farther areas within their city and take another car off the road.

I think that we all know that climate change ties into affecting the severity of weather, and how it has worsened in the past decade. The recent hurricane season has increased my concern for climate change as Hurricane Milton and Helene were within about half a month apart from each other. As well as the above average amount of rainfall during hurricanes. This was caused by the extra CO2 released that is warming the atmosphere indirectly causing excessive rainfall and ultimately devastating flooding.

Fast Fashion. This has become a term everyone has become familiar with. Over the last couple of years, fast fashion has made its presence known. The fashion industry itself is known to be responsible for almost 10% of our global emissions. Fast fashion produces massive amounts of clothing that are more affordable and more efficient to produce. These industries jump on latest trends to draw in large crowds. However, even though this sounds extremely convenient, fast fashion has made numerous detrimental effects on the environment. Clothing requires unimaginable amounts of oil, space, chemicals and water to produce. According to BBC, it is estimated that it takes 2,700 litres of water to produce ONE t-shirt! Unbelievable right?! Over the years, globally, clothing has made a huge impact on our own personal carbon footprints. To combat this issue, we have to make the choice of supporting more sustainable brands. We should also be willing to reuse and repurpose our materials.  Every single action of ours, impacts someone or something else in one way or another. It’s important that we are aware of the results of our actions. By dressing green, we can save green!

I agree. Fast fashion has been a problem. One thing you can do is to stop going to fast fashion places and start thrifting. thrifting is a good way to stop buying fast fashion. When you thrift the clothes are generally cheaper and could be better quality and also decreases your carbon footprint. It's also a good way to reuse and repurpose clothing that were once used.

There are a lot of sad things happening around the world, and unfortunately, they are usually what make the news and get lots of publicity as opposed to the good changes and actions happening. This can lead to hopeless or anxious feelings about climate change that cause some people to stop trying to fight climate change. It is important to be aware of the good and innovative things happening in the world as well as the bad.

I agree! I think that if people were more informed about the good changes that others are making to help fight climate change, then they would be more motivated to help make changes to improve as well! I think that instead of promoting the tragic news to make people feel hopeless and doomed (although it's still good for awareness), we should promote more news about positivity to motivate others into willingly helping improve the state of the world. Positive news could be more inspiring and help lead someone into wanting to do what others are doing to make the world a better place for everyone to live in and to inform them of the small changes they can do to make a big difference. Sad/tragic news on the other hand could make someone feel like it's too late to make a change or the problems are too big to be able to do something about it (which is completely untrue)

I agree with this, I think it is very important to focus on what we can do and change instead of what we are doing wrong all the time. Though it is important for people to know the severity of whats happening right now I think we could educate people on whats happening in a less scary way. Educating people and especially kids in a way that makes them feel like they can do their part is vital so people actually start making change instead of being scared of how much they need to change their lives in order to save the whole world. I think a great way to educate everyone is start with small things like how to recycle properly and to advertise clean ups that you could sign up with your friends or family.

Did you know only 25% of 5-17 year olds in Canada use active modes of transportation. This is why it is really important to use transportation as much as you possibly can because only 1/4 kids do. Just think of how much gas gets put in the air in one day and how much you and the people around you can prevent that. You can't change everyones carbon footprint but you can change yours so use that opportunity and use it to your advantage to try and save our earth!

I agree with this as ,riding a bike or even walking to school your helping out the ecosystem by not using as much gas as you would be if you were driving. Even taking the bus is good and that's a good way for transportation as well. But imagine how much you can help out just by doing the smallest things can help make a good impact on our environment.

Did you know that 19 precent of Canadian households drink primarily bottled water. This just shows that there are still so many people that don't use a water bottle. It us very important to use a water bottle because it prevents us from using so much unnecessary plastic. it is also way cheeper to use a water bottle instead of buying bottles water because if you have a water bottle you can just refill it but if you buy bottled water than you have to buy it every time you need water. You can also just refill the bottle of water you buy and keep refilling it instead of getting a new one every time. This is why you should just buy a reusable water bottle because it will save you money, time and help the environment.

I think is important for everyone to have a garden where ou can gro fruit and vegetables.
To have a lot of good products for the kitchen and because when you eat good food you stay fit and healty, it's a good thing for the environment because you don't buy food from the supermarket whitch has travelled a lot of kilometers producing a lot of pollution.

You make a great point about growing your own food! A lot of people don’t realize how much pollution is tied to the transportation of produce from farms to supermarkets, especially when it comes from faraway regions. By growing fruits and vegetables at home, you're cutting out those emissions and contributing to a healthier environment. Plus, you get the added benefits of fresh, nutritious food and the satisfaction of knowing exactly where your produce comes from. It’s definitely something more people should consider as part of a sustainable lifestyle.

I think it is important for people to grow their own fruits and vegetables because it is healthy products that they are growing in their backyard and it is very convenient for them as well. With people growing fruits and vegetables in their homes, it allows them to save money and enjoy fresh grown food.

I agree because i think it is important to have fruits and vegetables in your life to keep you energized throughout the day. Although there are a lot of people who live in house that do not have backyards or any space in their house to plant any fruits or vegetables. It is a very good idea, but for the people that do not have that space we should find an alternitive solution for them. Like maybe a community held garden where you can bring your own seeds and plant what you want.

Fruits and vegetables are definitely very important to your health. But I don't think everyone needs their own garden to eat healthy. Many people live in small apartments that are not equipped to grow a garden. But growing window-side herbs is a good solution if you want to start gardening but don't have enough space. Many people don't have the time or energy to keep these gardens alive and well even if they do have space and money due to school, work or family. If you live in a big city, often the grocery stores are not that far and you would be going there anyways to get other groceries. Organic fruit and vegetables can be quite expensive and if you are looking to cut costs on these things, growing a garden would be a good thing to look in to.

i think growing a garden is a good way to supplement a lowered carbon footprint and while i don't believe it to be a necessity. I think it is a fairly easy way to lower your carbon footprint and get something back from it but some people do live in apartments with not much space to grow plants. but even if you have little space you can still get a window box, grow some herbs, or even get a plot at a community garden to grow some bonus plants. if you are looking into gardening you should probably be prepared for a fair amount of failure though, gardening is hard sometimes so if you are just getting started i recommend trying to grow something easier like lettuce or potatoes.

Lots of people suffer with hunger, it could be cause by the lack of access like not nearby grocery stores or fast food places. Children suffering with this issue can lead to health issues and impact them in there immune system, and growth as well. This is another reason why we all need to work together encouraging others to not waste food.

I agree because there are so many people that can use our help to just not waste food. Its such a simple thing that everyone can do and it would help our society and ecosystem in so may ways. It also just makes me feel bad when I throw away left over food because I know that it could have gone to someone else in need. I think that everyone should always try their best to not waste food unless they absolutely have to because it will benefit our earth in so many ways.

Reusing things are really important like going to the grocery store and buying new bags for ur grocery's but instead u can use reusable bags and bring them from home. By doing that your saving urself money and being eco friendly. Ur also cutting down the waste of the extra plastic bags your buying that is goanna end up in the landfill or ocean. Also fixing up t-shirts like sewing ones with holes or rips in them and if ur clothes get smaller donate them.

There are many effects like hotter temperatures, higher health risks, global warming, increase of droughts, and more severe storms. Because of higher temperatures some areas have experienced hot days and heat waves as well, which makes it hard to move and work. Another one is higher health risks. Diseases can spread due to the changes of weather, and not only that but because of the extreme weather, it can increase the number of deaths. This makes it hard for health care workers to keep up. Global warming is another effect, because our ocean absorbs heat, which causes sheets of ice to melt and endangers marine life due to the carbon dioxide that the ocean absorbs as well. Fourthly, is the increase in droughts. This can is a big threat to our environment because deserts are expanding, which is taking up the amount of space for growing food and plants. Droughts can also transfer tons of sand and dust across continents due to the sandstorms. Because it's so hot and dry, there isn't much water resource which is a big threat to humans. Lastly, more severe storms. Due to the changes in temperature, this has caused many floods and landslides destroying many homes.

We know that extreme and abnormal weather patterns are a result of climate change. But I think it's important for people to know why and how. When CO2 is released into the air, it warms our atmosphere, therefore warming the planet. When our planet heats up, it makes sense that it would cause more droughts, and dryer climate. While it doesn't seem like it, it also causes more rainfall and changes in wind patterns. When the ocean temperature rises, it makes the water able to evaporate easier. This causes water to go into the atmosphere, and eventually turn into rain.

Hi this can help make a Sustainable

edit sing is single sorry

I agree because single use plastic will just turn into micro-plastic and stay in the air

I agree stop using single use plastic. It very much effects our environment as it is only "single use" using reusable water bottles such as Hydro Flask might cost more but wont cost more then thousands of single use plastic material. Don't use single plastics!

I agree with ethlou, Single use plastics are so bad and dangerous. When we are done with them we just chuck them in the garbage not thinking of the consequences. They can end up in the ocean and hurt our sea life or end up in a landfill and never break down. If Single use plastics end up in the ocean some of them could get caught around animals necks or fins and cause them to suffocate or die. Animals in the ocean could also confuse plastic as food which could make them very sick and/or cause animals to suffocate from the inside. If plastics do break down, they could turn into microplastics which are also very harmful in similar and different ways. Microplastics have been found to cause heart attacks, health affects and even death. Instead of using single use plastics we should use reusable water bottles, wooden cutlery, beeswax wrap instead or Saran Wrap (yes this more expensive, but you can reuse them multiple times so in the end you end up saving money.) And if you do end up using single use plastics try to recycle them properly so the can be reused in a different way.

i think nina is correct single use plastics are very bad for the environment and getting rid of them would genuinely not even be that difficult to do. All you have to do is be careful about what we buy a lot of things have single use plastic containers but as long as you take a moment to look wether or not you can recycle the plastic. This seems like one of the easier things to drop for most people and it is very important too. single use plastic is incredibly bad for the environment because it does not break down really at all and therefore they can kill many, many animals every year especially in the ocean which is already in bad shape because of ocean acidification.

One thing we think would greatly reduce Co2 pollution is to bring back the horse and buggy in replacement of motorized vehicles.  Motorized vehicles cause pollution to the environment.  These pollutants cause harm to our health.  They have greenhouse gasses that can greatly affect climate change.  The burning of gas and other fuels creates very harmful byproducts.  They also create Co2 which is the most common human cause of greenhouse gasses (Department of Ecology State of Washington).  Horses are selective grazers which causes them to not eat tougher grasses.  This is because they can not digest them (Extension Horse).  Horses are very important to the environment because it increases the plant diversity in an area.  (Lonker, Fenchner, El Wahed).  Horses are one of the biggest contributors to renewable energy and resources.  They produce up to 9.1 tons of manure every year.  This manure can be turned into green energy.  These farms and other energy companies around the farms can use this energy (Middleton Place Equestrian Center).  Lots of horse farmers utilized trough watering for their animals.  This helps the protection of natural water sources.  It also prevents erosion on the edges of the natural water source (Middleton Place Equestrian Center).  Vehicles are America's biggest air pollutant.  They are producing about one - third of all U.S. air pollution (National Geographic).  Highway vehicles release about 1.5 billion tons of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere every year (U.S. Department of Energy).  As you can see the horse creates a smaller Co2 footprint than motorized vehicles (Extension Horse).

I disagree with your statement because horses create solid waste, which will lead to more machines being build to clean and pick up all of the bowel movements from these horses. Driving a car like a Prius, riding a bike or taking the bus to your location will get you to your desired location but also decrease the carbon being released into the atmosphere.
As well as feeding the horses factory made feed will increase the greenhouse gasses. ultimately everyone switching to riding horses is not an ideal choice to make to reduce Co2 pollution.

Bringing Back horses is a very interesting idea. Yes they don't burn gas to move unlike cars, But if we brought horses back there would be so much extra waste and not to mention methane farts and burps. The methane gas would go into the atmosphere and stay there trapping in heat. Only a small part of their waste could actually be used for green energy, and the rest of it would just stay where it was dropped and would release biogas(methane and carbon dioxide). Also as a person it would be nice to not step on horse poop everywhere I go. To use horses as transportation, that would take lots of energy for them to walk around all day, so they'd need more food and water which would produce more carbon to grow more crops, use more water for them to drink and to grow crops and take more land and resources which the world is running out of. One more reason we got rid of horses and buggys is because this way of transportation is also abusing the animal. Horses weren't made to pull around super heavy cars and be whipped if they need to go faster. Horses and buggys are not the solution to gas cars and just isn't sustainable for the world.

We all need to work together to sae our planet and our lives, for example: do separate waste collection, recycle, take public trasport ecc.

I totally agree if we want to save our planet we need to work together and start making some action like for example taking public transportation to school. Although as we all know in order to take public transit to school or work, it take’s more time out of your day. Even though it take's a longer amount of time to get places when taking it, it will help our environment soo much if people started cutting down there driving. Every 10km per person on a skytrain produces 0.37kg of CO2, where driving would produce 2.05kg of CO2.

Through most most people's carbon footprints, you can realize that most familes have their carbon footprint based onto either food or transportation. There many ways you can solve each problem. First, to solve food carbon footprints, I would first suggest going vegetarian because when you eat and buy meat, you can cause a large amount of carbon footprint. Another way to restrict carbon footprint by going fo something local. The first way is to simply go to a local vegtable shop and buying something there. Even if you still want to buy meat, you should still use it through a local source. If you want to use transportation, it should be better if travel and have vacations locally and not go somewhere very far. Even if you do, you should still use public transportation like trains to get somewhere. This will be able to help solve many of the world's problems in our carbon footprint.

Yes I, believe going vegetarian will help, because if we don't eat a lot of meat it won't cause a large amount of carbon footprint. So I totally agree that eating vegetables will help lower the carbon footprint. And I also agree that going for vacation not going to a far place also helps the carbon footprint lessen

Yes, being vegetarian would be better for Earth. Because we wouldn’t pollute the world more.

Vegetarian is better for the Earth but it is also really hard for many families to stop eating meat. It might work to gradually start eating vegetarian meals.

While I agree that eating less or no meat is better for the earth, it isn't always that easy. Eating meat is an important part of many cultures, and it isn't fair to ask those people to stop eating meat. I think we also have to consider that a big part of the carbon coming from meat is from the deforestation and clearing of land for animal agriculture. Because of this, the land that we are already using for animal farming would still be used to grow alternative sources of protein. While it would reduce the amount of methane being released by a lot, I don't think we can "fix" this problem, or erase our food carbon footprint. In addition, other sources of protein such as quinoa or chickpeas are much more expensive than meat, and there are many countries and people who cannot afford the alternate options. Yes, whoever can should consider eating less or no meat, but we can't ask everyone to cut meat out of their diet.

i think you make a valid point but it is also very difficult to do these things for example some people live far away from there schools or stores, I live very far away from my school and therefore have to drive there. in addition to this it can be very difficult to just stop eating meat and to buy local for some people. As an example some people only have enough money to buy food at stores such as costco because they have lots of family or not enough money to afford high quality local vegetables. Also for some people eating meat is culturally important. I think it is important to think about what you are saying before you say it especially on the internet because it is difficult to judge others comfort unless you know them and in this situation not many people can follow through on this advice.

For my personal carbon footprint I think it shows that I use a lot of hot water and it made my co2 go up by a lot. firstly I take showers longer than 15 mins and I use hot water when washing laundry in my house. But I'm going to try my hardest to take showers less than 15 mins and suggest to the people and my house to use warm water instead of hot or even cold. Something that made my co2 level go down is that my house hold recycles very well. I really encourage people that don't recycle to at least try doing more fit because its really important to our ecosystem and it doesn't take that long.

Something that I know contributes to my carbon footprint is my consumption of meat. However, I find myself unable to give it up. This is due to the valuable amounts of protein, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that the human body acquires when you eat meat. I understand that it's bad for the environment because of the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Another reason that meat consumption is bad for the environment is because land used to raise animals loses water, soil, and trees while untreated waste pollutes streams and rivers. I believe something I could do to still eat meat but reduce my carbon footprint is got only eats meat two days a week at most. I currently eat meat 4-5 days a week and while I can't give it up entirely, I think that trying to reduce the amount of meals I eat with meat in them, by eating vegetarian or plant-based alternatives to meat, could help the environment.

i think what your doing is honestly super good because i know that not every one can completly cut out meat from there diet. if every one ate meat only once or twice a week the green house gases being released would decrease by alot. though i dont completly agree with your first statment because you can acquire proteins and such from many other things that dont put the welfare of an animal down.

I think you cutting out some of the meats is great, but you can find other sources of finding protein for your diet. You wouldn’t have to fully give up meats and just have it a few times a week instead of cutting it off and finding different sources, though keeping the meat intake down keeps the green house gasses down a lot.

I think that it is very good that you are cutting on your meat consumption to help the environment but I suggest instead of just cutting out all meat and animal products you could instead start trying new forms of protein and other source of nutrients like soy based forms of protein like tofu or eat other alternative meats like beyond beef that is made of plant based ingredients so you get the sources from meat but without the methane and co2 emissions so I think its a very good ting you should try it

I can totally relate to you Louisa! I'm in the exact same position where I fully understand the impacts that eating meat has on the environment and my carbon footprint but I also am not able to fully get rid of it. This is because of my culture and my family for we eat meat for at least 3 meals a day, and because I have eaten meat my whole life, abruptly getting rid of it can have many different negative effects on my body. Even though it is difficult for me to completely give up eating meat, I still try my best to reduce my meat consumption by eating more vegetarian meals and reducing my meat consumption to 1-2 meals a day or every other day and even less in the near future (like how you eat meat 4-5 days a week and are trying to reduce it to 2 days a week). I'm taking it slowly because there's times like dinner where I don't really get to choose what to eat as I eat dinner with my family, but I'm slowly convincing them to eat more vegetarian/vegan meals. Other ways that I try to reduce my meat consumption is alternatives like tofu. You can find many delicious no-meat recipes to make in replacement of your usual meat meals.

Doing things as simple as composting, turning off lights when you're not home, recycling, taking quicker showers, and carpooling or riding a bike or walking can help the environment. these are all easy and not very time-consuming lifestyle choices that you can make that can help save our earth. Obviously, there are larger problems than plastic straws in the world but every little thing can help.

Dear BigCmanCrago, i agree that we must make these small changes in our own lifestyles, and even though it may not seem like it's making a big deference, if everyone does it, it will.  I know this to be true because I used to use the opposite argument, that if i buy and throw away just one or two recyclable bottles, its not that big a deal. If I take 30 minute showers just this week, it wont really matter. Yet its when everyone in the world thinks like this that we have a problem. We must shift our our mindsets together to start thinking about the little things, and thinking about our future.

I think osker makes a very good point. It can be easy to forget about the other eight billion people we share a planet with, often using the excuse “what difference can one person make?”. And sure, one person who chooses not to recycle couldn’t have less of an impact, but when hundreds, thousands, millions of people decide that its no longer their responsibility, well you can imagine the problems that would come with that. It is imperative that we do not keep a solitary mindset, as climate change is not a battle we are fighting alone.

I agree that these small actions make the environment around us a better place, but what will these actions do for our planet in the long run if not promoted? What is the point of putting ourselves through more work to act sustainably if it only benefits our egos? I understand that taking actions like carpooling and taking short showers takes away from our carbon emission, but these actions will not have a large impact on our planet if there are very few making an effort. This is why I believe that we, as students, must find ways to promote our healthy lifestyles as much as possible. Although much debated, one citizen acting sustainably and keeping it to themselves will not have an impact on climate change or global warming. If change is desired, we should be actively looking for ways to promote our healthy and sustainable ideas to many others.

I agree that every little think thing helps and just by taking a 10 min shower instead of 20 can be helpful, but also just by decreasing your meat eating by one meal can help so much more than you think. For example a McDonalds Big Mac cause around 2.35kg of CO2 where an impossible burger (which is a type of veggie burger) produces 0.75kg of CO2. So yes every little thing helps, but it’s is also good to think about the bigger things like becoming vegan and things like that.

world hunger at face value seems like an unsolvable problem but I believe I have an idea to help make it a smaller issue compared to what it is right now.  My idea for helping with the ginormous problem that world hunger is stems from the fact that in the energy pyramid only 10 percent of the energy consumed by one of the organisms can travel up 1 level up the pyramid so I think to help with world hunger we could stop feeding the amount of grain and other foods that are at the base of the food pyramid and give it to people in need instead of using it to feed cows or chickens because only 10% of the energy in the grain goes up to the cow unlike eating the grain/corn and not eating the cows I believe that this can help a lot of the issues ninth world today because people would have much easier access to food a neccesary resource for living

I agree with this idea. Because meat is so grain and water intensive, it would make more sense to feed lower down the food chain. For example, to produce 1kg of beef, you need on average 25kgs of grain. This is not economical when world hunger is so prevalent. If we switched to more plant-based diets, we would require less land to grow food, while feeding more people, and we could help prevent deforestation and habitat clearing. I do recognize that there are constraints to being vegan/vegetarian, so instead of fully cutting out all meat, we could at least strongly reduce meat consumption.

I agree with santbuzz I feel like there are too many animals used for agriculture and that there are too many starving people in the world to just give all of our grains and other plant food to animals just so that the more well off people can survive and eat well. Plus animal agriculture is one of the #1 contributors to carbon emissions which causes global warming. So I think we should cut down on those emissions and help out the less fortunate by feeding less cattle and chickens and feeding more people.

The balance between the human race and the well-being of our planet is quite difficult to balance. People need more and more things that are not exactly friendly to the environment and the planet. what can we do to balance the balance? I think we should reduce as much as possible the objects that we don't really need or replace them with others that are better for the environment. I admit that I also buy some things (clothes for example) that are not really useful to me, taking into account that I have so many good things that I could continue to wear. therefore, I will try as much as possible not to spend so much money on things I don't need, but to invest them in things that will also help the planet.

To add on to you’re point I think people should use more recyclable materials that are biodegradable, as well as organize more events for recycling, cleaning and informational ones too because it is very important to learn about how much one piece of plastic can damage the environment, and the ways that our pollution can affect animals and plants. We need to be aware that we are the cause of pollution and that only we can fix pollution and save our planet.

I completely agree! I often buy new items without considering what I already have and how my purchases will affect the planet. I feel it is important to pay attention to the packaging of items and minimize our purchases of plastic or other packaging materials that are harmful to our planet. It would also be great for communities to continue to transition from plastic products to more paper products. In addition, it is essential to enforce recycling and composting policies to limit the amount of waste dumped on land, making its way to our ocean, polluting the water, and hurting marine animals. We definitely need to be more conscious of our daily actions and their effects. Has your community taken any effective steps to further protect and heal our planet? Do you have any other ideas on how to do so?

I also agree very strongly marlow. It is important to recycle as much as possible.My community hasn't done this but i have researched a lot on cleaning plastics.One project I found interesting was an organization called The Ocean cleanup, It took a net attached to two tug boats that collect plastics in ocean hotspots . Although this form of cleaning is effective i feel it is not as sustainable as other projects due to a boat being driven around the ocean a lot which could effect the marine ecosystems as well as effect the carbon footprint.A great way to clean up in your community without needing many tools is to organize ocean and river clean ups, river clean ups are very important because our world only uses 1% of the 71% of water on earth and it is getting limited everyday due to waste in our fresh water.

one thing that is off the table for me is eating 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, and 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 are bred because of the demand we put on them meaning more of the methane they 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.

Hi i think this is a great point and is honestly very informative, i did notice you put this under the “Off the Table” category and off the table means something you wouldn’t do. I agree completely and this reality is horrifying. I’m really considering cutting off on as much meat and dairy as possible for me.

hi, thank you so much i just noticed this, please disregard this message as i am going to put it in the right category soon.

As teenagers we must reflect about our wants and needs, because unnecessary things will increase our carbon footprint to unhealthy levels which will lead to destruction of our earth and all living organisms. Overspending on only wants can lead to financial troubles, so spending wisely will benefit you and your bank account. Indulging in your wants can provide a sense of satisfaction and joy. however it is crucial that you find a balance between both a want and a need. Brands like amazon, nike, apple, are constantly developing new ways to hook in new shoppers and ways to get you to buy with tricks and tactics that influence your behavior is ways that you do not realize. Life on earth is not just about buying and spending but to live the life you are given to its fullest. Because in the end whoever dies with the most money and the most items do not win.

I play a high level of hockey which requires me to drive to training 4 times a week as well I have games during the weekends, and sometimes I have to travel to rinks that are very far away and I have to go there on a team bus, for example a few weeks ago I had to play a team that is a 13 hour drive away from me not to mention tournaments as well. Basically hockey is such an important part of my life so for me driving is off the table.

I agree with KPR#31. I also have to drive a ton for my activities. I live really far from my school and have to drive about 80km for sports per week. It isn't great and I wish I could make some changes, but don't really think many other options are feasible. I've considered using public transit, but it would add an extra hour to hour and a half to my commute time, which isn't really an option when I only have about an hour and a half between school and sports. In short, I wish I could do something, but driving is really the only option

Did you know eating 1 burger takes 3000 Litres of water which is equivalent to 2 mouths shower. Also every second 1 football fields with of land is farmed for animal agriculture.
51% of all co2 emissions are clouded by animal agriculture, do you think people need to talk more about this subject since its a big matter?

I agree with the Canadian man called Hugo_2010 because I for one think this is not talked enough about and there is definitely some evidence on why in the hit movie/documentary called cowspiracy and it shows very well the theme of your post and I think it should definitely have more attention drawn to it because it is one of the if not the biggest leading cause for climate change

I also agree with your statements Hugo_2010 and santbuzz but especially with santbuzz. I think that this subject is not discussed more frequently, and also I have watched that amazing documentary Cowspiracy it details and shows about the importance about our trees and animals. Lastly when your eating a burger I hope that u realize that the patty had a face and takes 3000 litres of water.

Humans have negatively affected the climate for years, these actions inclue burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and over use of our resources, as the earth warms more and more each year our ice caps will melt even faster.
https://climate.ec.europa.eu/climate-ch … %20warming

I completely agree with you. However, I'd like to add that agriculture also plays a big impact on the environment. For example, if you feel bad when you take a long shower or leave the tap running then consider the animal products you eat - eating one hamburger is equivalent to two months of however much the average person showers. That's a lot of water, think about it. Of course, burning fossil fuels, deforestation and the over use of resources are huge problems. In fact, these practices are all used for the making of meat/dairy products - we cut down forests so that we have more farmland, we burn fossil fuels to transport the goods, and of course we use tons and tons of feed (that could go to humans) and water to sustain farm animals.

Yes. I fully believe that humans are the main cause of climate change. The reason for this is because most of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is caused by humans. Humans cause CO2 to be released by cutting down trees for various reasons (ex. clearing land for agriculture, paper production), breeding animals for meat consumption, burning fossil fuels (ex. transportation, heating), electricity use, and so much more. I feel that if we were to reduce some of the things we do to contribute to the CO2 in the environment, then the world would head towards a cleaner and safer future.

If you are a student, you may not think that you can do much to help out, but there are many things you can do including eat less meat, take shorter showers, turn off any electrical device when it is not being currently used, take public transportation, walk, or bike whenever possible, and throw your waste in the right bins. I'm not telling you to change your whole lifestyle, but if we all try to reduce even a little bit of the things we do to contribute to climate change, then we can make a huge impact to change the outcome of the future. Try to do whatever is possible for you.

My carbon footprint is significantly lower than the average one in my state but a little higher than the world's average. I want to lower it because I want to lead a more sustainable lifestyle. My highest category of carbon emissions(?) is food, which is probably because I eat meat very often. I have no problem cutting down on that, so maybe that could be how I make a change.

Me too, I eat meat pretty often within a week for more protein. Although there are many alternitives we can switch to to still get the same amount of protein. Like Quinoa, peas and lentils all are very high in protein and are vegetarian. Food isnt the only thing keeping my carbon footprint high but also how often i leave my lights on. There are many times where i will turn my lights on in my room and walk away but forget to turn them off. So it does waste a lot of energy and increase my carbon footprint as well.

Shopping can be fun, but it can also be very harmful to the earth. Not to be offensive, but parents who spoil their children just buy whatever their children want, not thinking about the consequences. They buy them toys that they barely play with, clothes they never wear, throwing it all away in the trash. They don't think about where those things are going, possibly dumped out into the ocean, or strewn on the ground in a desolate place. But what about animals who live there? We need to think about what are actions cause us, even if they're not immediate.

Yes I agree that so many people just buy whatever they want but in the end they just end up throwing it away or never using it. To stop this I think that people could be more mindful about what they buy or maybe if they have clothes that they never use they could donate it to a charity or to goodwill.

I've actually never thought about it that way and I have to say I agree with you. We really need to put thoughts into what we buy if we also think about shoes that we buy that we sometimes don't wear can be wasted. I'm sure there are many more I will now be thinking more about what I buy  when I shop.

I agree with you because I think some animal may eat and get stuck in it .That is not good for the environment , our sea is gonna yo be with trash.

For me, I think I'll try to only go shopping for unnecessary things once every 1-3 months. (Is that still a lot?)

I agree and we have to think before we buy

People never seem to think about what their purchases could do to the environment or will they even use them at all. People should actually think if they need something when at the check out line. All people should get to get items that they enjoy but that should not come at the cost of Earth.

Also, I will try not to eat too much processed foods, and more organic, fresh foods.

I agree it has been a problem on youtube videos I see with YouTubers where the buy random stuff to look cool  and do nothing with it but some give it away like useful things !!

That's pretty cool!

Yes i agree, we should only be buying things that are needed. Especially with our clothes we should just be getting the necessary clothes for a week and buy new items when needed. Or even hand me downs are also good to get from relatives or even friends. I believe whenever you buy something i think everyone should just think about it first like how often are you going to use this item? Or is this something i actually need or could i save this money for other things like food.

Yes I agree buying new stuff lots has a huge impact on our earth. Maybe as a population when we are wanting a new clothing item we can look is thrift stores and buy second hand. This will help us reuse thing instead of getting thrown out.

i completely agree with this, buying new clothes or toys we don’t really need is really wasteful and not a good idea for our environment. especially if it is something you know you don’t need and will rarely use but are just but buying it for the sake of buying something. a great way to stop doing this is going to yard sales or getting hand me downs or even going to thrift stores, this can help our environment because less waste will be getting thrown into land fill and more things getting reused. another great thing to do is sewing your own clothes, even though the idea might seem daunting at first it really isn’t too difficult once you learn how. trucking clothes or making your own is also a great idea for saving your money to be able to buy things you really need later.

I know eating meat and animal products are horrible for the environment, but it isn't really something I think I could give up. As an athlete, I think animal products are one of the best protein wise and for building muscle, but for example: it takes 3,000 litres of water to make a single burger. This is really bad for the environment and is definitely not sustainable, but personally think plant alternatives and beyond meat just cant really replace it.

I know eating meat and animal products are horrible for the environment, but it isn't really something I think I could give up. As an athlete, I think animal products are one of the best protein wise and for building muscle, but for example: it takes 3,000 litres of water to make a single burger. This is really bad for the environment and is definitely not sustainable, but personally think plant alternatives and beyond meat just cant really replace it.

After doing my calculations, the CO2 released from just driving came to 2271kg, only coming second to my meat-eating. I would like to bring that number down, but that wouldn't be feasible for me. I play hockey, so I have to drive around a lot, even going to rinks up to 3 hours away 2-3 times a week. Any other form of transportation wouldn't work for me, to take my bag on the bus or train would take up too much space and I would be afraid with the price of my gear to lose anything. Hockey is such a big part of my life and I'm not willing to give it up to bring down my transportation carbon footprint.

After going through the carbon footprint survey I have realized that my carbon footprint just from travel is insane. I can't control this as much since it is driving to baseball which is around 2 hours a day 4 times a week. Also, driving to games all the way across the country. There could be some ways to minimize this though like if we had an electric car we could save less on the C02 emissions from gas. The Department of Ecology says "Driving faster burns more fuel and emits more air pollutants. Accelerating gradually also burns less fuel. Getting a vehicle moving from a complete stop uses the most energy, so go easy on the accelerator. Try to anticipate the road ahead and avoid racing from red light to red light."(Melanie Foster). Doing this well taking long trips would be a very good start to making my travel safer for the environment. Another big issue that my family has is since we are always on the road we tend to have to waste lots of food because we are going out to eat all the time. Our always buying out. I also struggle with off the table with my consumption of meat since it is the main source of every meal I eat because I just enjoy the flavor so much and be I need the protein to be able to be able to perform my athletics at a high level. Some ways I could take this down by eating out less. Making meals that we can make in a hotel that is healthier to the economy like plant based foods. The United Nations says "Plant-based foods – such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, peas, nuts, and lentils – generally use less energy, land, and water, and have lower greenhouse gas intensities than animal-based foods."(United Nations) Doing some of these steps could make a massive change in my carbon emission.

I agree with this because my transportation carbon footprint number is also the biggest contributor since I do activities four times a week that I drive to  and from which are really important to me. Although it is possible to take public transportation to and from my activity. So I will sometimes but it is just annoying after a long tiring day to have to walk to the bus then bus home so I usually drive the twenty minutes. So to bring my number down I’d want to do other things like bus to school in the mornings instead of taking my ride to my activities away.

I think that people should start thinking about how much clothing they are buying and if it's really worth the money and  environmental impact.

There are a number of things people can do to help reduce overconsumption - 1) start thrifting!! - it has like no environmental impact, there are some great finds, and is way cheaper! Why not switch to thrifting now?? 2) buy from environmentally friendly companies! - if you have some issues with buying second hand consider buying from companies that source their products in a way that helps, or has doesn't have much of an environmental impact. 3) don't buy so much!!! - consider if you really need to buy that pair of 12th pair of jeans. It helps the planet and is kind to your closet!

These are a few things you can do to help with the overconsumption epidemic.

I completely agree. I think thrifting is a great way to produce less waste and to stop fast fashion. Buying from thrift stores is also a good way to save money because it tends to be cheaper as well. You can also donate all of your old clothes to thrifts instead of just throwing them away. Especially items that you only wore once to an event or just ended up not liking. I also completely agree with your third point. I find it so stupid when people spend money on items they already have. Especially if there was nothing wrong with the first few items.

So I have a large(r) family, there are 6 of us. We try to grow most of our veggies and carpool whenever we can, and I try to walk whenever I can, but I was wondering if there's anything else we can do to try to lower our carbon footprint?

I suggest saving energy at home because most of our electricity and heat is powered by coal, gas, and oil which uses a lot of energy. To reduce your carbon footprint, you should consider lowering your heating and cooling, switching to LED light bulbs, and washing your clothes with cold water instead of hot. Another suggestion is to hang your clothes to dry them instead of the dryer. Food wise, eating less meat and dairy can lower your carbon footprint. It's good that you're growing most of your veggies because producing/growing plant-based foods can result in fewer greenhouse gas emissions and uses less energy. I also highly suggest you throw less food away because it wastes all the energy and resources that was used to grow, package, and transport it. Foods in landfills also produce methane, so consider composting leftover food and using everything you buy.

is it a want or a need bruh.

A want or a need and deciding between both can be a struggle for many people. A want is something that will enhance our quality of life and is not required to live. Food, Water, Space, shelter, these are needs that are requirements for survival and our own well-being. A want may improve your life and make you feel good or better once you have it but it will not stop you from starving or give you enough shelter or space to live in. Understanding the differences between these two can better deepen our choices that we make. Balancing wants and needs is crucial for overall happiness and decision making

Instead of putting out more carbon emissions in the air we could start to bike to destinations rather than driving for a minute and a half to get there.

I think that I should start doing this more I usually take public transportation

I completely agree that that is such an easy and affordable fix. I think a big reason our society doesn’t just all bike is how lazy people are getting. People eat so much fast food and don’t exercise enough to balance. This is a big problem and personally I am trying to walk/ bike more often when possible. Cars that are gas powered produce so much carbon and it’s pretty easy and it saves so much money to not drive often.

I know a lot of people now buy new bags whenever they go grocery shopping and always get new plastic boxes when getting takeout for food. Although what happens to all those bags and boxes once you are finished with them? Most are just throw in the trash and forgotten about which causes more carbon and methane into our atmosphere. So start reusing your bags and boxes instead of getting new ones everytime you go out to eat or go shopping.

I think a great way cities can reduce their carbon footprint is installing mandatory solar panels. Solar panels are really easy to install and once done produce very limited amounts of carbon. To start off solar panels could just power lights and small appliances. As the solar panel technology gets more advanced they can start to be the main energy source for heating, cooling and now major appliances as well. Once we get to this energy saving form of electricity, the world will burn way less fossil fuels, reducing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere.

One thing that i struggle to limit myself with is definitely my electricity use. In this society especially, we rely on most of our entertainment, communication, and school and work resources online. Especially with our current world situation, i think i speak for a lot of us when i say i find myself turning to my phone or laptop quite a bit to spend free time or just to occupy myself. Although i do hope we can move more towards using solar energy/more eco friendly energy sources in general, i think its quite hard to cut down on my energy use at the moment.

I agree. Like you mentioned, my electricity usage has also gone up with our current situation. Most of my homework/learning happens online, and I have found myself spending free time on a device instead of spending time outdoors or meeting friends. Although personally limiting the usage of electricity is off the table. I am willing to charge my devices for less time (instead of all night) and completely turn it off when it is not used. I hope to slowly limit my time spent on energy sources and reduce my carbon footprint.

I agree. Before COVID, the majority of my time was spent going out either to go out with friends or to go to sports or any extracurricular activities. Now, we need to be extra careful when doing these activities, so I do spend a lot of time on the computer or my phone; sometimes for school and sometimes to catch up with some friends online. It is hard but I am trying to get better at not being on my phone/technology if I'm not doing homework or something productive.

I agree wholeheartedly. Before the coronavirus my electricity usage was low but now it is increased significantly. Now I need to use it for schoolwork/class and for playing videogames. But I try to reduce my carbon footprint by removing my charger when I am not using it and turning off my lights when I am not in the room.

I agree. Before covid, I was just starting to think about how much electricity I used and now it's even worse. All my work is online and I find myself grabbing my device a lot more. Then whenever I finish doing my homework I usually go straight to another device because I feel like there is nothing else to do (coming from someone with a very short attention span). Obviously there are other things but I still need to find something that interests me.

I also agree. I do not have many hobbies or I struggle to stick to any, so electronics such as my phone and laptop are what I use daily to cure boredom. I also have trouble when it comes to sleeping because I need for a show to be on in order for me to fall asleep, which I use my laptop for. I am trying to find hobbies to stick to but it is so hard, especially when my laptop is something I am already used to.

I agree too. While my parents tell me to put the electronics away, I can't get myself to do it sometimes mainly when there is nothing there is to do.

My electronic use went up 100% because of our current situation. We depend on electronics for a lot of different things and also just use them for fun which I do a lot.

While I agree that sometimes it is quite hard to get away from your phone or computer, I think we should move towards not only using solar panels, or eco friendly sources, but also start to have more social life as there is more and more opportunity now that covid is settling down a bit. Social life and just spending time with other people reflects a LOT on our development as ourselves and I think is is incredibly important that we can have that again.

Personally speaking phone and computer charging is very little of our home energy usage, however it was much larger during distance learning. About 35% of energy usage relating to IT (data centers, communication networks, computer software, etc.) is from computers so this pandemic would have affected this a lot. It will be interesting to see how the rise in electric cars in the coming decades will affect global electricity usage.

I totally relate. I've been trying to regulate myself and my screen time lately, but it's kind of hard to do that when pretty much all my school work is on my laptop/phone.

Using electricity is definitely a major concern because it’s one of the hardest things to cut out. The way our society is wired, especially after the effects of the pandemic, make it impossible to not use electricity. There is of course a simple solution; clean energy sources. Unfortunately not everyone has the money or access to solar panels, a windmill or something similar. It’s incredibly frustrating to know that there is a solution but so many people can’t use it because rich people refuse to let go of the energy sources they have invested in.

I definitely agree with this, energy is difficult to cut out in this society. We live in this world of heating, cooling and lighting, things we couldn't live without. Since we are trying to limit our paper use, we end up spending more time on phones or laptops to do homework, pay bills or check the news. There is no way to cut off our energy use completely, our world is not built for that. I think energy use should be on the table for something we can fix because there are solutions. Like as "folklore" said clean energy is one. But you can also try to limit your energy use now by putting on a sweater instead of turning the heat up and turning off lights when you leave a room.

i thunk that a lot of people buy objects and never use them, this is really a waste, so if you have to buy something make sure it's really useful.

i agree

I agree that if you buy something and don't use it why wast your money.

Yes always think before buying stuff because you might end up not using it, and it becomes a waste.

I agree because most people will see adds and buy it but not use it.

I agree

I agree because some people think it looks cool but they just never use it or they just leave it to get dusty and rusty and that is not good so you just throw it away all the time and your family might just always do this and it is bad for people so I suggest to only buy what you need like food or water and some toys.

I agree, that happens to me a lot. I buy things but I don't really use them. Just think about if you will use it before buying things.

I agree

I definitely agree, I need to work on this myself. When me and my family go shopping, I am always so tempted to just buy the first thing that I like in the store. Most times, the things that I want are snacks in single use packages. I have to remind myself that we have delicious food and snacks at home.

You can always reuse it on other stuff like crafts,costumes,DIY,home stuff,parties,or sell it.

I agree. If I ever don't use something I usually give it to a relative or donate so it  can be used as intended

I also agree because many items we want but not all we need, so we should try to limit ourselves to how much we buy.

I agree, if you accidently buy something and you can't return it, you could give it to a thrift store or sell it.

Huge Problem for me I buy a lot stuff I don't need so I been working on this.

I agree, there is a good amount of people who buy stuff that they just see and WANT instead of getting stuff that you WANT, get stuff that you NEED! There are a lot of people who can't even get stuff that NEED things such as food,clothes,water and other stuff that you NEED to survive in this world. Next time think about this post before you go out getting stuff that you don't necessarily "need" 

I personally agree to this. People might find difficulties to in purchasing things that look "cool" but not actually using them.

I have an idea that could help. Using the "48 hours" rule. After seeing the item you really really WANT to buy, you go home. For two straight days, if you keep thinking about the item nonstop, you must choose if it benefits you or not. If it benefits you and the environment, you may buy it. But if it doesn't benefit you, or you even forgot about the item, you shouldn't buy it.

I personally agree to this. People might find difficulties to in purchasing things that look "cool" but not actually using them.

I have an idea that could help. Using the "48 hours" rule. After seeing the item you really really WANT to buy, you go home. For two straight days, if you keep thinking about the item nonstop, you must choose if it benefits you or not. If it benefits you and the environment, you may buy it. But if it doesn't benefit you, or you even forgot about the item, you shouldn't buy it.

This is so true. We need to normalize not being influenced by the internet to buy things we won't use. We should only buy things that we need and less things that we only want.

I agree. Many people buy things that they dont need just because of trends. Even I buy things that I don't need.

I agree wholeheartedly. It is important in an increasingly consumerist world to learn to know when you need something vs when you want something. Being able to decide what is good and what isn't saves me money in the short-term, and saves the environment in the long term.

Yes, I often find myself getting ready to spend money just because I have it. I was in this situation yesterday, and I had to stop and think, "Am I actually going to use these, or do I just think they look cool?" In the end, I saved my money, and one less useless thing was bought.

I completely agree! I think i’m guilty of getting something unnecessary here and there but this is a big problem. Buying unnecessary things like cheap toys, mass amounts of meat, and clothes you’re never going to wear. Things like cheap toys are fun for a moment but especially as you get older you’re truly not going to use that and it’s gonna go in the garbage and into the ocean. Things like mass amounts of meat from costco can be helpful for some people because it’s cheaper and easier, but if you’re going to let half of that go bad then it’s really a huge waste for how much carbon footprint the process to make that meat just left. And i know many people who buy clothes they don’t wear but if you’re not gonna donate those and just throw them away then it’s such a waste, and what did you get out of it? maybe a tiktok post and a haul for your friends but you won’t even remember it in a year, and the environment will live with that possibly 200+ years.

Thats a really good point. I sometimes buy things I dont need and never use them. I think we all need to think before we buy things and ask ouselves "do I really need this"?.

stop wasting food other people might need it so they don't starve.

Yes i agree, although its not just starving people around the world. Wasting food is also causes more methane in the world. After you throw it away it gets left in the garbage or even gets moved to landfill and can rot. When food rots it produces methane and it stays in our atmosphere. So before wasting food always think about how this can effect our atmosphere but also how other starving people wish they had the food you were throwing away right now.

Food waste is a huge part of the carbon that is emitted into our atmosphere. When food is thrown away and put into land fills, or burned, all the carbon that is stored in it contributes to the greenhouse effect. This is why it is so important to compost. Composting has many benefits: it helps store the carbon from the food that stores lots of carbon in soil and stops it from being emitted into the atmosphere, it provides fresh soil that you can use to plant and grow your own food, it attracts beneficial animals that will help break the food down such as worms, and it stops landfills from being filled with food waste and trash. Composting is something that is so easy to do, and even if you do not have a backyard to do it in, you can have a composting bucket inside. It involves just a few extra steps in your daily routine and it is one of the most powerful actions we as individuals can take to stop climate change from reaching its full potential.

I totally agree, another solution to reduce the waste of food in the restaurant could be the use of "doggy bags", cardboard boxes that allow customers to take home food they have not eaten.

I totaly agree with you, another thing that could be done would be to, at the end of the day, perhaps give away to non-profit organizations or sell at a reduced price everything that you were unable to sell during the day, in this way it would avoid the phenomenon of homeless people rummaging in the trash looking for food or even animals that, attracted by the smell of food, sneak into bins, creating a nuisance. this would also help many people.

I completely agree. Composting is a simple yet powerful way for individuals to make a significant impact in reducing carbon emissions and stopping climate change. By diverting organic waste from landfills and instead allowing it to decompose naturally, we can not only prevent the release of greenhouse gases like methane, but also keep up soil health and promote biodiversity. Also, composting isn't limited to those with outdoor space; indoor composting options like composting buckets or composting using worms let people living in apartments and those without yards to participate the act of composting. It's a win-win situation: reducing waste, enriching soil, and contributing to a healthier planet.

I one hundred percent agree that we waste so much food. One thing that could help is composting I know that many people don't compost so for the people that don't I think it's a good idea to start.

I agree. When you throw away food you are wasting all the resources ad energy that was used to grow, package, and transport it. Not only that but the food that has been dumped in our landfills can produce methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas. I suggest that people consider composting leftovers and that they always use what they buy.

Eat less

yes , im agree with you ! It necessary eat less meat

yes it's a good idea

Je suis d'accord de faire attention a notre de consommation de viande

the meat is very important for our body we must eat more of it

I agree to pay attention to our meat consumption

eat meat like real men

Yes, we must eat less meat

hello everyone

I think what you’re saying is very vague and not descriptive. It’s important to remember that when we say something like “Eat less meat” it is not always that simple for so many people. It’s hard to make that big of a decision when you can’t see immediate results. Meat is also an easy (and sometimes cheap) option for people and going out of your way to avoid meat is nearly impossible. I understand your point on the fact that meat is adding an insane amount of carbon to our society but just remember that it’s not that easy for people to switch diets, or find new food. Also, don’t give such blunt advice unless you are also willing to take that advice for yourself.

Yes, I agree, we do really need to lower our meet consumption, but we also need to lower our dairy intake. Most of the worlds freshwater goes to meat and dairy farms to raise these animals, which are usually kept in a very small space and are force fed. We are using up our resources which we as humans and animals need to survive on earth. We need to majorly lower our meat and dairy intake and try to eat more vegan and vegetarian meals.

Yes, I agree, we do really need to lower our meet consumption, but we also need to lower our dairy intake. Most of the worlds freshwater goes to meat and dairy farms to raise these animals, which are usually kept in a very small space and are force fed. We are using up our resources which we as humans and animals need to survive on earth. We need to majorly lower our meat and dairy intake and try to eat more vegan and vegetarian meals.

one thing that is off the table for me is eating meat.
personally, i eat meat/eggs quite often, and i am willing to bring that frequency down, but i dont every see myself being vegan or vegetarian. the reason why i couldnt is that 1, i do like the taste of eggs and meat, and enjoy eating it, 2 many meat substitutes like soy are growing on land that was rainforest, and was razed to plant soy,so i feel like its almost as bad? and 3 i am quite active, and i dont know how i could eat enough protein without animal products.
even though my family still eats meat we try not to eat beef that much, and we don't drink milk at all, so i would still say we are doing our part to reduce carbon emissions.

i agree with your first reason and that is completly valid and that's your opinion. your second reason is not quite right because according to a statistic plant based diets use 75% less land then a normal diet so more meat is being grown on that land then soy ect. i am also very active and a really simple sustaitute is iron suplaments you just take a pill every other day and you will not be short on protien in the least. i think its really great that your limiting your meat and dairy though.

i completely agree with frhfbhadksbc, niobe b, your first point was very understandable and makes a lot of sense.
i do think though that your second point is not entirely true because a according to you can grow 37,000 lbs of vegetables in a year on the same amount of land you can grow only 375 lbs of meat. livestock growth is also responsible for 136 million acres of land being used worldwide. i think this really shows that eating dairy and eggs is worse for the environment then the soy substitutes. so please do more research before you say such blunt things. however i am glad you are willing to eat less meat meals and make a sacrifice for our environment.

(this is what i was supposed to say by the way) i completely agree with frhfbhadksbc, niobe b, your first point was very understandable and makes a lot of sense.
i do think though that your second point is not entirely true because a according to the conspiracy documentary you can grow 37,000 lbs of vegetables in a year on the same amount of land you can grow only 375 lbs of meat. livestock growth is also responsible for 136 million acres of land being used worldwide. i think this really shows that eating dairy and eggs is worse for the environment then the soy substitutes. so please do more research before you say such blunt things. however i am glad you are willing to eat less meat meals and make a sacrifice for our environment.

Make sustainable city is easy ? Why it's difficult ?

yes

NERF POCO

yes , poco is very very cheat

Cold Fusion, or low-energy nuclear reaction (LENR) is basically a hypothesized type of nuclear reaction that should occur at room temperature. There is currently no widely accepted theoretical model that would allow cold fusion to occur.

Theoretically, it should provide virtually LIMITLESS energy and minimal nuclear waste, and pretty much no environmental impact compared to, say, fossil fuels.

See, current nuclear power plants use nuclear fission (not fusion), which, as the name suggests, consists of splitting heavy atoms (such as uranium-235 or plutonium-239) into smaller fragments, which releases a large amount of energy. The problem is, along with energy, fission also produces additional neutrons and radioactive fission products.

These radioactive fission products are typically unstable isotopes of elements such as cesium strontium, iodine, and plutonium. These isotopes decay and emit radiation in the form of alpha, beta, and gamma particles. Some of these isotopes can remain for thousands to millions of years.

Cold fusion, on the other hand, is a nuclear reaction which is quite frankly the opposite of fission. It involves two like atomic nuclei (often involving hydrogen isotopes such as deuterium and tritium) merging together to form a heavier nucleus (helium nuclei), releasing a significant amount of energy in the process. he energy released is due to the conservation of mass into energy, described in Einstein’s famous equation, E=mc^2, because if you look at the mass of the reactants and compare it to the mass of the product, you’ll find that its not equal, which means some of the mass has been transferred into energy.

The reason this occurs is because the speed of light (c) is a very large number, even the smallest of mass could theoretically be converted into a large amount of energy. This process occurs at near room temperature. This low energy requirement reduces harmful nuclear byproducts. Hydrogen isotopes are also relatively lighter than nuclear fission reactants, and therefore should generate more stable elements.

If we can somehow harness this release of energy, it could be a potential source of clean and abundant form of energy, proving to be superior to the fossil fuel and nuclear fission energy we use today…

(if ya read all of that congrats u officially don't have the attention span of a 6 year old yayyy)

.

This is true, I agree.

I completely agree because E=MC2 is one of the most famous equations developed by albert einstein and this is completly true. The speed of light squared is actualy about 9 times 10 to the 16 power m per second which just shows how much limitless energy we can get.

Yes, but what is the cost of doing such things, and how would we go about doing this? Would the practice methods be sustainable?

I love this and I completely agree! I am someone who is highly interested in nuclear physics and the use of nuclear power (which is why I have 235 in my username), and it's always great to see others take an interest in it as well. It's disappointing that a lot of people tend to shy away from anything that involves the word nuclear since they immediately equate it to being disastrous. The use of nuclear power, especially cold fusion, is very interesting and I think that if more people took the time to learn about it we would be more open to using it.

lmao i was pleasantly surprised when my post from half a year ago got a reply

Most of us humans are addicted to electronics nowadays because they control our everyday life; but what if we could limit our time on electronics. How can we do that? One way we can break our addiction from electronics is to be more active. For example, taking time out of your day to get some exercise in, whether its working out doing weights by yourself or signing up for gym classes getting daily exercise is very beneficial. Another example could be to go on walks or bike rides. Going on walks or even jogging can help take your time off electronics and can help you appreciate the world more. Ultimately, it's hard to break an addiction, but the more effort you put in to try to break it, the easier it will get over time.

Wow! you hit it right on the nail, I sometimes catch myself just unusually using my telephone even when I know I should be I am learning that its okay to not use it some times and not over use it when I don't need to. Thank you so much I definitely will.

There are several ways you can help reduce pollution:
Reduce plastic consumption
Opt for sustainable transportation
Energy conservation
Recycle and reuse
Small daily actions can make a difference in reducing environmental pollution.

I completely agree with your points! What’s great about reducing pollution is that it doesn’t have to be overwhelming—just starting with small, simple actions can make a big impact. For example, choosing to bring a reusable water bottle or taking public transportation for one day may seem minor, but when you make those choices consistently, they add up. It’s all about finding small, manageable changes in our daily routines and building from there. The great thing is, once you try one thing, it often motivates you to explore other sustainable options. Little by little, these habits can create meaningful change without feeling like a huge burden.

I also agree! It is important for people to realize that by doing small actions like recycling plastics or by using less plastic products, they can help fight pollution. It doesn't have to be a huge burden for everyone, so just by doing these small things more often, we are helping reduce pollution. Plus, it can encourage others to try doing the same!

I agree with your statement, all of those examples are great ways to reduce pollution, a point I would like to add is, if abled, people could try and go out to parks or public spaces and pick up waste around them.

I think it's very important to think about how our individual small acts impact the environment, we should all try as much as we can to minimize the harm we cause in every way we can. Even if the methods feel insignificant, they add up.

I 100% agree with the points you're making. And with what other people are saying; you don't have to go to the extreme such as not using technology at all or walking or biking everywhere, but if everyone would help lower carbon emissions even just by cutting the time on their devices by 10 to 20 minutes and try not to spend hours everyday driving just by running errands.

I totally agree with you because I feel most people furiously use the internet and that's not okay

Combating ocean acidification is crucial for the health of marine ecosystems and the livelihoods that depend on them. As carbon dioxide levels rise, more of this greenhouse gas is absorbed by the oceans, leading to a decrease in pH levels and disrupting the delicate balance of marine life. Coral reefs, shellfish, and various marine organisms struggle to build their calcium carbonate structures in increasingly acidic waters, threatening biodiversity and fisheries. Effective strategies to address ocean acidification include reducing carbon emissions, promoting sustainable practices, and restoring coastal habitats like mangroves and seagrasses, which can help buffer changes in pH. Collaborative global efforts, research, and public awareness are vital to mitigate the impacts of ocean acidification, ensuring the resilience of our oceans for future generations.

Ocean acidification is expected to have negative overall effects on many marine species. This could alter marine food chains and food supply to humans. Ocean acidification occurs when carbon dioxide (CO2) is absorbed rapidly into the ocean. It reacts with water molecules (H2O) to form carbonic acid (H2CO3). This compound then breaks down into a hydrogen ion (H+) and bicarbonate (HCO3-). These hydrogen ions decrease seawater pH.

Ocean acidification is a rising environmental issue that poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems. As carbon dioxide levels rise in the atmosphere,a portion is absorbed by the oceans, leading to a decrease in pH levels. This chemical shift can have devastating effects on marine life, particularly organisms with calcium carbonate shells or skeletons, such as coral reefs and shellfish, which struggle to maintain their structures in more acidic waters. To help this issue, we can take  action by reducing our carbon footprints through lifestyle changes. Such as advocating for renewable energy sources, and supporting policies aimed at decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. Promoting awareness and education about ocean health can help communities to engage in conservation efforts to help our oceans.
I have also found a link about more information in ways we can help our oceans and marine life. https://texanbynature.org/2019/08/5-way … our-ocean/

I had no idea that what we put out goes all the way into the oceans...that is really sad to read about. Putting this post up will definitely help with my drive to cut down on carbon emissions.

I was shocked when I saw my total carbon footprint because I didn't expect that I'm polluting so much. I was also shocked for my score at home becausse I'm trying to waste less. Usually at home I turn off the lights when I leave a room, I recycle and reuse items, I turn on the water only when I need it.

When i see mine i was shocked about it cause i didn't expect i do that much of polluting

Maybe you decompose foods that you don't eat.

I was shocked of how much carbon comes from meals and what you eat. Also when I checked at the end my food had the most carbon out of all of them.

plane flights can be a major role in your carbon footprint

I was very surprised to see my carbon footprint for purchases so low.

for me the only category that was really bad was transportation. but it was just bc I took a 16h flight from Germany to ca

Many flights over 3 hours can be a big reason peoples footprints are very high.

Transportation was the highest for me, mainly because I have to drive to everywhere I need to go.

Industries are among the main sources of environmental pollution, releasing gases and toxic substances into the air, water, and soil. To reduce this impact, companies can adopt clean technologies, such as renewable energies and efficient production processes, to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, improving waste management through recycling and waste reduction, and promoting a sustainability-oriented corporate culture can help mitigate industrial pollution and protect the environment.

I agree, I know companies have to do what is best for them to keep themselves afloat but they should consider the cleaner and more environmentally sustainable options that we have. It would really help in the long run for the Earth and later generations.

I Agree, but I think the only way that would happen is if better methods were cheap, easy to change to, also reliable, and increased revenue. But would seem impossible so I think the only way that could happen is if government legislation forced them to or funded the change.

The newest technology could be both a want and a need. If you're a "bratty kid" that wants the newest technology to be in trend with the others, it's a need. But if you actually need the newest technology, for example for your job as an adult, it could be an important need.

I strongly think that having the newest technology is a want and not a need. If you already have a device that works perfectly fine you don't need a new one.

Attempting to keep up with the trends on what technology is best as an adolescent is not considered a need, however I agree that updated technology is a necessity if an individual is an adult and needs those upgrades in order to continue their professional work.

I think you meant to say that the "bratty kids" need for the newest technology is a want. I completely agree with the statement that having the newest technology isn't always necessary because at the end of the day, it leads to waste of the "older technology" in order to make room for the newer ones. I think that in areas such as the health field, it is an absolute need for their technology to be consistently up to date and renewed. Areas of expertise such as this one will benefit the entire community if they have access to these technologies.

I agree with your statement because most people this generation just want the newest technology to fit in with the others. With that being said, I think people that deserve the newest technology are people that need it for their jobs. Sometimes old technology can become too slow so that is why people with important jobs need the best technology that they can get.

Hey, I agree with what you're saying. And I'm also curious as to how big is the average carbon footprint in your region?

A lot of people may think that repurposing and recycling is limited to just plastics, however this is not the case. The article https://www.almanac.com/upcycling-ideas … -repurpose gives a variety of ideas in order to repurpose everyday items such as, rubber bands, toilet paper cardboard, and even toothbrushes. I believe that if influencers and people who have a big social media presence advertised this more and made repurposing trendier, then it would lead to an overall positive effect on the environment. Think about thrifting, while it has always been around, apps like TikTok and Instagram made it a trend to buy secondhand clothing. This has led to a positive effect on the amount of clothing that makes it to landfills. If influencers advertised that more over fast fashion, it would create such a huge impact on our waste.

Renewable energies are not just an option, they are our lifeline, they are not just a choice, they are our destiny.
Let us think big, invest wisely, and pioneer the technologies that will power a cleaner, greener future. We must develop new technologies to:
enhance efficiency, address intermittency, Integrate into existing grids and explore emerging Sources.

I wholeheartedly agree. Renewable energies are essential for addressing environmental and energy challenges. Investing wisely in them means not only ensuring a clean and safe source of energy but also fostering innovation and creating job opportunities. It is crucial to develop advanced technologies to improve efficiency, overcome intermittency challenges, and integrate these sources into existing networks. We must be leaders in creating a cleaner and more sustainable future by investing in research, sustainable energy policies, and awareness.

I fully side with this, there are many ways to obtain energy from renewable resources such as light, wind, and heat. These ways are more expensive but retain a balanced outcome for humanity if we switch to it.

I completely agree with this statement. I believe that in order for humans to continue to live on Earth that is able to support us, we will have to come up with ways to make renewable energy as it is evidential that we are slowly losing the resources we have now. I believe that with the innovative minds and the technology we have now, that this is possible. Tesla's are a huge example of making this possible. Huge shifts such as electric cars will help us take one more step forward to a cleaner future.

From the article, “Extreme Weather and Climate Change” the impact that the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has on the weather is brought to light. “Human actions since the Industrial Revolution, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, have caused greenhouse gases to rapidly rise in the atmosphere. As carbon dioxide, methane, and other gases increase, they act as a blanket, trapping heat and warming the planet. In response, Earth’s air and ocean temperatures warm. This warming affects the water cycle, shifts weather patterns, and melts land ice — all impacts that can make extreme weather worse.” As a result of these gases being trapped there has been devastating consequences like severe flooding after hurricanes, droughts, wildfires, and more. Becoming aware of this and changing our actions to not put so much gas into the atmosphere could help with the extreme weather.
https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change … e-weather/

The number of plastic we use is an insane number.In my opinion  we shouldn't throw it away immediately,but use it as much as we can and recycle it.

Thank you so much and I completely agree with everything that you said! There is so much overproduction and overuse of plastic especially with water bottles and then they just end up in landfills or in the oceans. I think that with this issue there are many answers to this problem. One solution could be to buy water bottles that are reusable and are not made out of plastic. This has been a new trend, especially in the United States through Stanley and Hydroflask water bottles where people have these on them at all times. Another solution that I practice at home is by rinsing out all plastic bottles and then use them to propagate plants. I take the bottles and cut them to the desired size and height and then fill them with water and put the plants in them. Not only do I do this but I also went to go have lunch one day and saw a business putting plants and avocado seeds in plastic bottles to propagate them. Plastic and bottles are so multifunctional and if we just stop to think about the different purposes we can come up with great ideas and unique ways to help save our planet. If we can just start reusing little by little we can continue to get plastic out of Mother Nature. Thank you and have a great rest of your day!

It is very important to be aware of Your impact on the Earth, which includes the products you buy and use. However, it is just as important to be aware of how you can reuse those same products so you can reduce your carbon footprint as well. For example, you can reuse plastic containers that came with food when you bought it for future usage. It's also just as important to help bring awareness to others on how they can be more earth friendly like putting up posters on public areas about where and how to properly recycle.

https://www.epa.gov/recycle/reducing-wa … you-can-do

I agree that the usage of plastic in everyday life has reached an extremely high number. In addition to this, the act of using “one time use” plastic items like plastic water bottles or plastic bags at grocery stores feels so normal as so many people do it in their everyday lives without concern of the harm it does to the environment. Overall, I agree that the usage of plastic is not good and instead people should seek an alternative like a metal water bottle or a reusable bag for groceries.

Soil health is on the decline and leads to worse and less successful harvests, the crop turnover is happening constantly and depletes nutrients from soil without time for recovery of minerals. Regenerative agriculture is the idea of farming in a pattern that replenishes soil and allows crops to be healthier and more nutrient-rich, however it is very hard to accomplish on a large scale due to it being a big change that requires a lot of collaboration.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8023280/

As climate change continues to worsen, we are feeling greater and greater effects of it. Weather has grown not only overall warmer but less predictable as well. In the United States, specifically Florida, I have seen greater devastation grow more frequent as the years go on. While there are roughly the same amount of storms as previous seasons, they grow more dangerous and powerful every year, causing greater risk to life and property, even as our methods of protecting life and property improve, the cost of damages has increased dramatically over time.

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/08/nx-s1-51 … ate-change

Recycling and reusing are important strategies for reducing waste and conserving resources, which benefits our environment. By recycling materials like paper, plastic, and glass, we reduce the need for new materials, which helps lower energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Reusing items, whether it’s repurposing containers or donating clothes, extends the life cycle of products and minimizes landfill waste. We can help by including these practices into our daily lives—setting up a home recycling system, buying secondhand items, By making small, conscious choices, we can collectively make a positive impact on the planet and promote a more sustainable future. This link will take you to a clothing website that uses used clothes and re purposes them into cute vintage clothing.

https://recycled.clothing/?srsltid=AfmB … hmvgihTmxd

Extreme weather events like hurricanes are increasingly linked to our carbon footprint. The burning of fossil fuels releases large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Warmer ocean temperatures provide more energy for hurricanes, making them more intense and capable of carrying more moisture. This results in stronger winds, heavier rainfall, and greater destruction. To reduce the impact of our carbon footprint on extreme weather, we need to take more steps. Transitioning to renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power can drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, improving energy efficiency in our homes, industries, and transportation systems can reduce overall energy consumption. Supporting policies that limit carbon emissions and investing in sustainable practices can help mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce the frequency and severity of extreme weather events.

https://earthjustice.org/feature/how-cl … me-weather

Farmers usually farm one crop in their fields but with multi-layer farm crops can be stronger, more biodiverse, improve yield, reduce weed competition, reduce soil erosion, and more.

I agree! By planting various crops, farmers can not only improve the strength and yield of their crops, it also helps maintain bee populations! By having multiple kinds of plants or crops that different bees can pollinate, it helps make sure that the burden of pollinating isn't left onto one local bee population. With multiple populations of bees, it can help reduce the risk of bees becoming endangered.

Ocean acidification is a significant environmental issue caused by excess atmospheric carbon dioxide being absorbed by the oceans. This process lowers the pH of seawater, making it more acidic. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), ocean acidification has detrimental effects on marine life, mainly the organisms with calcium carbonate shells and skeletons. These species are vital to the marine food web and their decline can disrupt entire ecosystems, affecting biodiversity and fisheries that we rely on. The NOAA suggests several strategies, reducing CO2 emissions is paramount, which can be achieved by transitioning to renewable energy sources and enhancing energy efficiency. Protecting and restoring marine ecosystems, such as seagrass beds and mangroves, can also help as they absorb CO2. Additionally, improving monitoring and research on ocean chemistry and its impacts can guide effective policy and conservation efforts. We need to work harder on reducing our carbon footprint!

https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource … dification

Now more than ever, we are hearing about climate change. With our warmer winters and scorching summers, it makes since that climate change is happening. However, some people doubt that climate change is even real, or that it is caused by human activity. This can be a dangerous mentality to have, as the more people that don't believe in climate change, the less that will be done to change it. So, what is climate change? Climate change is caused by an increased amount of methane and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. These gases trap heat from the sun in our atmosphere. While the atmosphere is designed to keep some heat from the sun, the introduction of the gases causes it to hold on to more than we can stand. The increased amounts of these harmful gases in the atmosphere are mostly caused by human activities, such as driving gasoline-powered vehicles and burning coal at power plants and factories. The more the overall temperature of the Earth rises, the more animals and ecosystems that will suffer because they are unable to adapt fast enough to the rapid changes. To sum it all up, climate change is very real and caused by human activity. If nothing continues to be done about it, we will eventually experience another mass extinction, much like the one the dinosaurs experienced.

https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/effects/

In densely populated urban areas, waste reduction and recycling are crucial for managing environmental impact and improving public health. Cities with large populations generate vast amounts of waste, putting immense pressure on landfills and waste disposal systems. By implementing robust recycling programs and encouraging waste reduction, urban centers can significantly decrease the volume of waste sent to landfills, conserving valuable space and reducing methane emissions. This not only lowers the environmental footprint but also creates economic opportunities through the recycling industry, providing jobs and promoting a circular economy. In high-density cities, reducing single-use plastics, expanding composting initiatives, and incentivizing businesses to adopt sustainable packaging can help mitigate waste. Moreover, with a large population to educate and engage, city-wide efforts can cultivate a culture of sustainability, inspiring residents to adopt long-term habits that reduce consumption and waste.
https://www.epa.gov/recycle/reducing-and-reusing-basics

Converting to energy-efficient buildings offers significant economic value both in the short and long term. Energy-efficient buildings reduce operational costs by lowering energy consumption, leading to substantial savings on electricity, heating, and cooling. This reduction in utility expenses can offset initial investments in energy-saving technologies like better insulation, energy-efficient windows, and smart lighting systems. Additionally, energy-efficient buildings often increase property values and attract tenants or buyers who prioritize sustainability, creating a competitive advantage in the real estate market. On a broader scale, reducing energy demand also alleviates pressure on power grids and reduces the need for expensive infrastructure expansions. Government incentives and tax breaks for adopting energy-efficient technologies further enhance the financial appeal of this conversion, making it a smart economic choice for both individuals and businesses.

https://www.energy.gov/eere/energy-effi … 0Champion.

Did you know that progress in women’s political participation remains slow. According to my research on the UN Sustainable Development goals... In local governments, the participation was higher at 35.5% as of 1 January 2023. While global employment sees nearly 40% representation from women, they only held 27.5% of management positions in 2022, a notable decrease from 28.5% in 2021.

Did you know that progress in women’s political participation remains slow. According to my research on the UN Sustainable Development goals... In local governments, the participation was higher at 35.5% as of 1 January 2023. While global employment sees nearly 40% representation from women, they only held 27.5% of management positions in 2022, a notable decrease from 28.5% in 2021.

I understand that people love living in big homes and having a mansion of their own, but let's be realistic, no one needs a house that big for one person or even a whole family unless you bring an entire city with you. It's a waste of resources and basically living space. It's even expensive, so here's what I suggest, we can do compact living and only live with what we need, that was we'd always have money saved, our house would be easier to manage, and we wouldn't be raising our footprints so much. And I know some may say that a studio apartment can be much more expensive than normal housing, but that comes down to the person and how far they're willing to go to search for sustainable housing and something within their means. Not above it.

I 100% agree with this and how compact living would lower our carbon footprints drastically. Now, I'm not going to say everyone needs to change the way they live to complete minimalism; however, I feel if people lived with a minimal amount of devices and avoided living in excessively large spaces, there would be a large decrease in resource use and our carbon footprints.

I also agree on this matter, a lot of land and habitats have been cleared for big houses to only house one or two people only for the house to end up being abandoned and left there for years or even decades. It is undoubtedly a waste of resources.

You: 12,983 kgs
Average: 11,838

What can I change to lower my carbon admission.

Try turning things off when you aren't using them and walking, biking or using public transportation more.

You could turn the heat way down at night and use blankets instead.

My total footprint is 42,013kgs and the average is 21,237 kgs. My footprint is 3 times bigger than yours. My footprint is mostly in the home category, where's your's at?

My average carbon footprint was 18,856 kgs, and the average in Ohio is 21,237 kgs. However, I would like my footprint to be lower because most of it is in transportation, so I would try to ride my bike more.

My total footprint is 15,575kgs while the average is 21,237kg, shockingly, it's smaller than the average carbon footprint in my region, but most of my footprint is from my home.

My total footprint 37,058 and the average is 21,237. However, most of it comes from my house.

Looking at my home carbon footprint I realized it can definitely be reduced with it being almost 2000kgs over the average. One easy way to change it is to switch from incandescent bulbs to LED bulbs it can save money and reduce CF. Another way is to wash clothes in cold water rather than hot reducing CO2 by 550 pounds and also is better for clothes making them less likely to shrink or fade.

More about lightbulbs from nps.gov:

If every household in the United States replaced one regular light bulb with an energy-saving model, we could reduce global warming pollution by more than 90 billion pounds over the life of the bulbs; the same as taking 6.3 million cars off the road. So, replace your incandescent bulbs with more efficient LEDs, which now come in all shapes and sizes. CFLs use a quarter of the energy incandescent lights use and last 20 times as long. Not only will you be reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but you will save money on your electric bills and light bulbs as well.

Ever since I was little it would always amaze me how careless people could be; throwing their junk into the ocean. Don't they know there are living creatures living there? But let's be honest we have all made mistakes before this however cannot be an excuse to keep on repeating the same ones. We as of right now must stand up for our oceans. Turtles suffocating on plastic bags and sharks getting trapped in old fishing nets are just not right. Why do we have to be so cruel when they did nothing wrong? Hope is still not lost, we can change. But all it takes is a step, a step that everyone can make, a step that can be so powerful it can change millions of lives underwater. So please next time you feel an urge to throw your trash on the ground, remember the animals you will be hurting, the ecosystem that is slowly declining.

yes i agree with your opinion because when i go surfing i can see a lot of trash and it didn't make me feel good. I can't understand why can't people make an effort to throw trash in the trashcan. I thought that with the new technology we would have better lives in 2023.

I also think that we have to help save our planet through not polluting our precious oceans. We have to live together with our animals and not against them. We can do this through using our trash cans to the best of our abilities. If we do not see any trash cans around, we have to hold onto the trash until we can get rid of it wisely. Another way we can help our oceans is by helping to pick up trash around them. There are many organizations that are focused around helping to clean the ocean and pick up as much trash as possible in a day. One of these organizations is The Ocean Cleanup. This organization is a non-profit that has the main goal of cleaning up to 90% of the oceans floating plastic pollution.

This statement is something I can definitely agree with. I feel for sea life because they receive a lot of harm to their ecosystems. People dump lots of trash either not knowing or not caring about how much they're dumping into the ocean. Also, another harmful thing to sea life is oil. there are lots of reports about how oil is damaging sea ecosystems.

In class, we talked a lot about our environmental footprints, which I didn't even know about before. I also learned that the United States is in a concerning ecological deficit which may be scary on the surface, but there are many people working to make a change.

Food waste is a serious problem both in Italy and in the world. Every year, about a third of the food produced globally is wasted, resulting in an economic loss of about 700 billion dollars. In Italy, this translates into a loss of about 9 billion euros per year. The main sources of waste are households , restaurants , supermarkets and production. The main reason for household waste includes forgotten food in the refrigerator. Even though Italy is not among the countries with the highest waste rate, it still represents a significant challenge. The UN has included reducing food waste in its 2030 Agenda, with the goal of halving it within the next 7 years. This will require a global effort to change consumption habits and reduce food waste at all levels of the supply chain.

While the money lost due to food waste is a lot, the worst thing is how it affects people who don't have enough to eat. Think about it: there are millions of people in the world starving every day, even though there's more than enough food to feed everyone.
When we waste food, it's not just throwing away money; it's throwing away good food that could have helped feed someone who's hungry. This isn't fair and it's not right.
Reducing food waste isn't just about saving money or being eco-friendly; it's about making sure everyone has enough to eat. It's something we all need to work on together, so that we can create a world where nobody has to go hungry.

Sorry i missclicked while creating my account i am actually from Italy.

While the money lost due to food waste is a lot, the worst thing is how it affects people who don't have enough to eat. Think about it: there are millions of people in the world starving every day, even though there's more than enough food to feed everyone.
When we waste food, it's not just throwing away money; it's throwing away good food that could have helped feed someone who's hungry. This isn't fair and it's not right.
Reducing food waste isn't just about saving money or being eco-friendly; it's about making sure everyone has enough to eat. It's something we all need to work on together, so that we can create a world where nobody has to go hungry.

I'm not sure about in Italy, but in the US people try to promote composting our food scraps to try and be more sustainable about our waste. If our organic waste is properly composted it can actually really benefit our environment. According to the UN Environment Program it can help recover soils fertility, reduce the dependance on chemical fertilizers, improve water retention, and more.  We could use this composted fertilizer to grow more food so the amount of unnecessary waste is reduced. Food waste and loss contribute a good number to global greenhouse gasses as well(about 8-10%) so by composting this waste instead of just throwing it away we could help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that affect climate change. I agree that wasting food is unfair and sometimes it's an honest mistake like food forgotten in the fridge, but even that forgotten food (even if it's gone bad) can still be used to help our environment.

Promoting composting is a vital step towards global sustainability, as it diverts organic waste from landfills and transforms it into nutrient-rich compost. As emphasized by the UN Environment Program, this process not only enhances soil fertility and reduces reliance on chemical fertilizers but also improves water retention in soils, crucial for agricultural productivity. Also, composting mitigates greenhouse gas emissions by preventing organic waste from decomposing anaerobically in landfills, thereby addressing a significant source of methane emissions. Even unintentional food waste can be repurposed through composting, highlighting the value of this practice in turning what might have been perceived as a loss into a valuable resource for the environment. https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/res … composting

Food waste is a huge problem in the US too. We constantly over produce food and buy too much. Many states don't provide composting and even if they do, most people don't own a composting bin. Lots of food gets wasted in thrown in the trash, instead of being reproduced into soil. Most people aren't aware of how much they waste every day that could've gone to another person in need. This is a serious topic that we need to take action on.

Food waste is a big part of the US and other places. I think that your country needs to get better at saving food and not throwing it away. maybe you can compost the food that you don't eat and plant some plants and use the compost to grow your plants.

I just wanted to say that I agree, and that I found this information very helpful and wanted to say thank you!