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 totally agree, you made some great points. To add onto what you said about about thrift shopping or buying higher quality pieces. You have to be careful nowadays in thrift stores because a good amount of what you’re seeing is from fast fashion brands as a result of  this overproduction of clothes. The brand I see a lot when thrifting  nowadays is SHEIN. To add onto what you’re saying about buying higher quality pieces yes, the quality does matter, you’re correct about that.  However, you must be careful when buying a higher quality pieces as it’s irrelevant to buy a high quality piece if it was made unfair working conditions or the process of harvesting the materials for the product was harmful to the environment.

A large part of someone's carbon footprint comes from the amount of time that they travel in cars, so if they live in large or urban cities they can travel via bicycle instead. Especially for shorter distances, bikes are good alternatives for car travel since they significantly cut down on carbon emissions and provide exercise. The only con to traveling with a bicycles in urban cities is that it can be dangerous at times as a lot of people don't watch the road in front of them.

I think that bicycling around your city as a transportation mechanism is a great idea and is good for decreasing carbon emissions. Although if your like me and live far away from school and don't necessarily want to bike to school in the morning you can also take public transit. Public transit is much better for carbon emissions then cars because lots of buses and all skytrains are electric powered instead of gas powered cars. Public transit also can carry up to 20-30 people for buses and can carry up to 100-200 people for skytrains where a car only carry's around 2 people.

Solar panels are a wonderful invention that have the capability to reduce the carbon footprint of entire cities by more than thousands of pounds. It is a great source of energy that can reduce the amount of fossil fuels used to power a household. Implemented at large amount around the world it could help lower the carbon emissions even if it is by a small amount.

I agree to this, and I also think that solar panels are an amazing invention. I think that if we were able to implement solar panels in most of the world, it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a lot. The main problem with solar panels are most of the world can't see the good solar panels can do, and they're expensive to build, and many countries are struggling with their economy. However, I think that if we get some of the most influential countries to invest in solar panels, it would make a big difference in convincing other countries to follow their footsteps.

I also agree with this statement as well. although this would definitely cost a lot for cities to install, the long-term effects outweigh the cost. Firstly, this would greatly impact climate change and drastically slow down its effects. This would also benefit the city. Electrical power plants could be shut down and thus save the city money from maintaining and operating them. Citizens would also be happier, as there would be no more electrical taxes and energy is practically free. Lastly, this change can improve the air quality of cities. This will improve respiratory problems and get rid of plenty of pollutants and smog.

My carbon emissions for my household are much larger than other people worldwide. This is because one of my houses uses gas for everything. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can reduce the carbon emissions in general while living at home?

Hey there Eric. There are so many ways to cut down on carbon emissions while living at home. Some ideas I have are taking shorter showers (around 7 minutes max) will reduce a lot since we use a lot of water when showering. (approximately 17-20 gallons of water) You can also remember to turn off running water when brushing your teeth because treated water uses carbon and basically if you leave the water running, you are wasting water and creating excessive carbon use! If your washer and dryer are powered by gas, try only doing laundry loads when your machine becomes full or try air drying your clothes without a dryer. Another thing that can help is instead of using heating systems, you can try layering more clothes on and encourage others living with you to do the same instead of turning the heating on. Hope this helped Eric!

Hi Eric, Another thing you could do is to make sure that all the lightbulbs in your house are LEDs. LEDs are  a lot more energy efficient, than floresents or incandesces. They are more energy efficient, converting way more energy into light, and  not heat. They also save money because they last longer and you would have to replace them less often. You could also try to walk, ride your bike  or take public transportation to work or school depending on where you live. All these things emit significantly less carbon than driving. Lastly, you could try and change your diet if you are okay with that, to more plant based alternatives.

If I were designing a sustainable city, it would be built around people, not cars. Streets would prioritize pedestrians and cyclists, with wide, safe sidewalks, protected bike lanes, and plentiful green spaces connecting neighborhoods. Public transportation would be fast, frequent, and fully electric, including buses, trams, and trains, making it easy for residents to get around without needing a personal car. Car-sharing programs and electric vehicle charging stations would be available for trips where driving is necessary. Buildings would be energy-efficient, with rooftop solar panels, green roofs, and smart energy systems to reduce electricity use. Mixed-use neighborhoods would combine housing, shops, schools, and offices in close proximity to reduce travel needs. Parks, community gardens, and urban forests would provide clean air, spaces for recreation, and areas to absorb carbon. Waste would be minimized through recycling, composting, and circular design practices that encourage repairing and repurposing items. Food systems would also be sustainable, with local farms supplying fresh produce and markets, reducing transportation emissions. Water would be conserved through smart irrigation and rainwater harvesting systems, and the city would prioritize renewable energy sources for electricity and heating. I think living in a city like this would be very appealing. It would feel cleaner, quieter, and healthier, with easier access to nature and less traffic stress.

The city would be designed around the concept of 15-Minute Neighborhoods, ensuring that most daily needs, work, school, shopping, and recreation are accessible within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. The city center would be entirely car-free, prioritizing wide, well-maintained pedestrian paths and an integrated network of separated, protected bike lanes. The primary mode of motorized transit would be a sleek, fully electric, autonomous public transit system—such as a light rail or rapid bus—that operates on a tight schedule, making car ownership practically unnecessary for most residents. Energy would be sourced entirely from a mix of localized solar arrays and offshore wind farms, powering not only homes but also adhering to mandatory, highly efficient building standards that include extensive green roofs for insulation and stormwater management. Food security and reductions in transportation emissions would be achieved through large, vertically integrated indoor farms near the city’s edge, providing fresh produce year-round. This low-carbon, highly efficient design would make the city an attractive place to live, especially considering the benefits of reduced stress and improved public well-being. The guaranteed accessibility and diminished traffic noise would create a much more pleasant and vibrant urban environment.

Here are some ways to reduce your carbon footprint by focusing on improving energy efficiency, transitioning to renewable energy sources, transportation that requires less carbon, & also managing waste effectively. To increase energy efficiency, you can improve building insulation, switching to LED lighting, and use energy efficient appliances and also use smart thermostat to reduce overall energy consumption.

An easy way to reduce your carbon footprint is by using public transportation instead of driving alone. Buses, trains, and carpools help cut down on fuel use and lower the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air. This simple switch can make a big difference in reducing pollution and conserving energy.
https://www.epa.gov/

A truck that chops trees for lumber and then immediately replants them as it drives by

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.