every week I have to drive to and from my sports and most of the time I have to drive 50km or more. I can't give this as my games are usually early in the morning, and I wouldn't have enough time if I didn't do this. although I try to balance this out by carpooling with other members of my team

Just take the bus

I do things very similar to this. I also have to drive to many events 4-6 times a week for sports. Also, often the he event is more than 30km each time. Additionally, sometimes we have games in Victoria or Nanaimo. To get to the islands, I have to take the ferry. I have tried to look for public transit, but there are not many options to the areas where I play.

Although I agree, RileyWcanada never specified where his sports took place, or if he could take the bus or not. and if they are less than an hour away you could also just bike because if you just biked instead of driving it would impact your carbon footprint a fare bit.

I have very similar problems, as i have a dance class all the way in maple ridge every week. We have to drive incredibly far there and back and we dont really have a choice as there is no bus that takes you that far. Carpooling would also be difficult for us because everyone in my class is very spread out and everyone in my area doesn't go to this class. They only go to a separate one. So it's a very tough situation and i truly wish i didnt have to drive that far.

i am also in the same situation as all of you. i have to drive 2 times a week for practice, and every Saturday for games, and many times my games are far away. people should consider walking if they can to sports that are not to far away. even biking,  taking the bus, or getting a ride with someone else.

My family would really like to be vegetarian. But because my family has some personal health issues, this is only possible for us once or twice a week. We were vegetarian for a long time. But meat became really important to my family's health a while ago, and we weren't able to give it up anymore. But i think its important to source your meat reputably and responsibly and try to address to yourself where it came from and acknowledge what you're eating before consumption if your family really has to eat meat like mine.

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.

Many people can relate to this. Meat is something that is just hard to stay away from. It serves its purpose at every meal. However, I think one should try to limit their intake on animal products to just what they need. Despite these efforts, it is still very difficult to figure out how to stay away from it. When considering the effects of consuming meat, it emits, mostly, the greenhouse gas methane. On top of this, there are more problems eating meat bring to the environment. What people can do is limit the amount of meat they can consume to something more reasonable and try to opt for something else when given the opportunity.

I agree that many people relate to not giving up meat. Even though I think people should try to limit their animal intake to what they need, and most people do. However, it still contributes to their carbon footprint, and sometimes consuming meat can't be avoided, as it's many people's main source of protein. I like the idea of trying to eat something else when given the option, or switching to animals that produce less methane, like chicken, as an alternative.

Since eating meat is such a big part in many peoples diet it makes sense that staying away from meat can be hard. Especialy since meat has a lot of protein in it not getting the protein you need from meat can be very bad while growing. Also since many people grew up eating meat its hard to break out of the habit of eating meat. I know eating meat is very bad for the environment but not beef alternatives still have a long way to go before they fully replace meet.

I can relate to this topic. Meat is just something that is too important to just get rid of. But, we can limit the amount of meat we consume. Like substituting chicken for beef. As cattle use more than 60% of the worlds agricultural land. Cows also produce methane, a gas that is equivalent to 12 carbon molecules. It's always best to choose a better alternative. We don't need to go full on vegetarian is what I'm saying. Just limiting our consumption of meat or switching to a better alternative like chicken as I stated earlier, will greatly lower the amount of carbon produced.

I have recently learned about how bad eating meat is for the environment. Now I'm trying to reduce my meat consumption but the problem is that in my family we heavily rely on chicken as a protein source. I think that my family makes it a lot because it's quick, easy, and healthy. We do usually have vegetarian meals 2-3 times a week but mostly chicken for dinner. I'm wondering if there is any other protein sources that are better for the environment then chicken but is also high in protein.

Most of my family lives far away so when we need to see them we have to take a plane. Though recently we couldn't because of the war, a couple years back my family went to Ukraine via plane. The flight was very long and probably left a big carbon footprint.

This is wise to notice, and we should not take flights when it is not necessary (Like when we can drive somewhere but the flight saves time)

I took flights kinda often this year for example going to LA, Cabo, Mexico, Washington, and D.C wich most of them weren't to far from California. I think I could reduce my carbon footprint by trying to limit the flights I take to places near me and this would also help the enviorment more.

I think it's better to travel by plane than car because, if you're traveling far your going to be using a lot of gas in a car and you'd be driving for hours, but in a plane you can travel faster and not leave as much carbon footprint.

I agree

I do agree that it is a lot easier and more convenient with how far your traveling. all though I do think that people should consider driving a lot more to places in driving range. for example where I live in Canada, you can maybe drive to the U.S if your going their, especially because it is in driving range. and also the idea that flying gives a lot towards your carbon footprint.

Meat is my primary source of protein, and even though I know it greatly affects my carbon footprint. it would also effect my muscle development if I stopped eating it because I eat it to get most of my protein. It would also take more vegetarian items to get as much protein in a meal as chicken and rice.

I try my best to keep my carbon footprint as low as possible but I genuinely don't think I could live without going to any natural Springs in Florida. It replenishes my soul and makes me feel good, takes away all the stress out of my life and in general just brings me joy. The nearest one is just around an hour away, but luckily my new car has an Eco mode so hopefully that takes away some of the pollution I am causing. My goal is to live closer to some springs when I can afford it but in the meantime I'll have to stick to driving.

If it's only an hour away I think you could just bike, but if you don't have a bike or can't it'll be cheaper to learn or buy one. You also don't need the Florida hot springs you just want them, so just take a bath.

Depending on where you live, there may be some electric trains or buses you can take to get to the springs .If not, you could carpool with other people or friends that may want to go as well to save some gas and reduce carbon emissions. Another idea could be to rent a small hotel or something and stay near the springs for a few days to save time and gas. Its honestly up to you depending on what you feel like.

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?

I completely agree. My family and I prioritize keeping our footprint low in as many areas as we can and my footprint is well below average in all categories except for transportation. I've take 2 to 3 roundtrip flights across the country each year to visit family and participate in national sports competitions. Both of these are non-negotiables for me, especially seeing family. I, like many people, am not willing to sacrifice time with family to lower carbon footprint. What we need is to find a way to lower the carbon emissions of flying or find another alternative.

I  agree with you for the most part.My carbon footprint was either average or below slightly above average in all the categories except for transportation. Transportation made up just about half of my carbon footprint.However, flying is really important to my family, and is one of my family's core values. Because this, I have been to so many cool places, but I now recognize that comes at a cost of really high carbon emissions. However, when I am older, and have more control over my life, I will try to explore some local places in and around my province  or Canada that require less flying.

For me eating meat is something that I can't find myself giving up to cut down on carbon admissions. I eat meat a lot and its a huge part of my diet. I would try to eat more vegetarian options for meals but unfortunately I am allergic to many things that are used as a substitute like tofu and peas. One thing I can do is to make sure that most, if not all, of the meat I eat comes locally so that there's less carbon released to get the meat to me

I go on vacations throughout the year to visit family, 2-3 times a year, and it is a big issue. I like to visit my family and spend time with them, but flying is a huge issue due to the carbon emissions. Flying on airplanes is just something that I cannot live without.

That is a hard disscussion because even if you drive you are still giving carbon into the air.

I can also completely relate to this. As someone who has immigrant parents from India, flying to meet my relatives there is the only way I can meet them in person. I do not visit them a lot (once every 2-3 years), but whenever I do, it releases a lot of emissions due to the number and length of the flights. Also, my family tends to go on vacations two to three times a year as well, and there isn't much I can do about it. However, if it is within driving distance, we should always try to avoid airplanes and use our cars, especially electric cars, which are not as harmful to the environment.

I agree with Mr Kass here. Flying is something that I need to do to visit distant relatives.

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

There are a lot of things that people do in this world that are not eco friendly, and I try my best to reduce those activities. My family and I live in California, and like many others, visit family or friends in other parts of the world. Every year, we drive down to Cabo to see some family friends which increases my carbon footprint by a good bit. In fact, driving is by far the largest part of my family's footprint, over half. This is an example of something that my family will not compromise. I also have a cherished hobby, where I go and run my family’s tractor over the weekend. I hardly burn any diesel, but it goes without needing to be said that this hobby is probably not the best decision for the planet.

Obviously, a lot of this stuff (like traveling to visit family) isn't really in our control, which can seem really upsetting when a few trips a year can greatly increase your carbon footprint. But, like you said, trying to be as green and sustainable as possible when traveling is a great way that you can have an impact on your own emissions!

Sure, You are correct

yes i agree its hard to do.

I agree that you should be going and seeing them because they are your family, but i feel that you shouldnt fly there more than twice a year. that way you can even out your carbon impact and see your family.

Flying long distances contributes significantly to global CO₂ emissions, but your situation demonstrates the challenges of balancing environmental responsibility with personal and family needs. Choosing flights with fewer stopovers reduces emissions because takeoffs and landings release the most fuel exhaust, and bringing recyclables home shows an awareness of waste management even while traveling. This approach highlights that small, thoughtful actions can mitigate some of the environmental impact of necessary activities. Over time, technological advances such as sustainable aviation fuels or carbon offset programs may further help reduce the carbon footprint of essential travel, showing how both personal choices and systemic improvements are important in addressing climate change.

I agree. Family connections are deeply important, and visiting loved ones is worth the effort. It’s great that you’re mindful of your environmental impact by choosing eco-friendly routes and recycling when possible. Small, conscious actions like these help balance the need for travel with care for the planet’s future.

I wholeheartedly agree my family goes to Jordan every year because all of my dads live there.Doing this has an insane impact on my carbon footprint but It is just something we have to do. We also pick the trips with the least amount of stops and of course recycle all of our goods at our home in Jordan.

I'm in the same situation currently. I'm planning a visit to my family back in Cambodia and it's something that will definitely impact my carbon footprint immensely as it is a 27h flight to there and a 27h flight back which totals to 54h of flying.

I enjoy traveling a lot. I recently visited Japan at end of last year to the beginning of this year, it was a ton of fun and will most likely be a core memory for me. The problem is, it was a 25 hour plane ride to there and another 25-27 hour flight back. These are heavy emissions from just one trip back and forth but I don't think I could ever give up traveling to other countries despite the harm it causes.

Something I would never give up is my car. I love my car. It takes me to and from work and to my school. It's about a 25-minute drive to work from home and about a 5-minute drive to work to school, then about a 30-minute drive back home. I know electric cars are better for the environment, but they are way more expensive. My car only costs 16,500 dollars, and a used electric car would cost about 20,000 -30,000 dollars.

Humans need ways to preserve their perishable foods and a fridge is the main way of doing that in the modern day and age. I wouldn't be able to live without a fridge.

I am not able to limit my use of cars when getting to most places. I do try to use my bike when going to places that are short distance, but when going to school and friend's houses, because they are far away. I could bike to school since it is a 35 min. bike ride, but I have to carry my 26 pound tenor saxophone and sometimes cello to school. There is no public transportation near me and no school buses pass my neighborhood. Also, I have to travel to India every 2-3 years and visit my family in Virginia sometimes since my grandmother lives there. I haven't found a way to avoid these things, but they take up most of my carbon footprint. Please give suggestions on how to fix this.

something that I cant give up is campfires with my friends because they are too much fun and are not really that bad when compared to other things we humans do.

I feel the same way. I still think we should not do it on the regular though.

I agree even the little things count for something bigger

I agree we should limit the amounts of fires but i can't get rid of them fully.

Gaming, as selfish as it sounds, is a big part of my life, and I wouldn't let it go to reduce carbon 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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.