Students from around the world calculated their class mean and standard deviations for their footprints and posted them on our world map.
Do you see differences across the globe? If so, why do you think those differences exist?
Did you use the calculator to try to reduce your footprint down to the average from a citizen of another country? What changes would you have to make to lower your footprint in this way? Are you going to try and take some of these actions in your daily life?
Student Footprints >
Reducing our Carbon Footprints
After calculating my carbon footprint, I realized the impact of what each action and decision can have on the world including transportation, purchases, food, and lifestyle. According to data from the International Student Carbon Footprint Challenge, in order to maintain a sustainable Earth with a stable CO2 level of 450 ppm, humans should have an average carbon footprint of 1,000 kg. Although, based on the average carbon footprint of people living in California which is 9,727 kg, this ideal number of 1,000 kg is far from the current reality and is going to take a lot of effort and time to achieve. Our carbon footprint is determined by the amount of greenhouse gases produced to support human activities and habits. Carbon dioxide and methane are the main two greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide is emitted through the burning of fossil fuels which come from processes of manufacturing like factories. Methane is emitted through a variety of things we as humans contribute to on a daily basis. These are landfills, mines, mobile combustion, oil gas establishments, industrial advancements, and several more. As humans continue to utilize resources from Earth, we’re causing more greenhouse gases to be released and trapped in our atmosphere, affecting the overall temperature globally and furthering the amount of damage that needs to be stopped. As of today, carbon dioxide levels are higher than they’ve been in three million years at a number of 420.10 ppm, adding up and creating billions of tons of heat trapping gases that are increasing Earth’s surface temperature. However, there are ways that we can work towards minimizing our carbon footprints. Some examples are recycling and reusing, only purchasing things when they are needed, buying products with less packaging, limiting transportation in vehicles fueled by oil gas systems, and turning off power sources when they aren’t being used. Simple lifestyle adjustments can truly make a difference even if perceptible changes are not apparent quickly, but the human population needs to learn about and understand the destructive outcomes of our actions on the earth.