In the past three days, I have learned that my carbon footprint is less than the average footprint in my area but more than the average in the world. I have learned about all of the direct and indirect carbon emissions I can cause. I have learned that people with higher incomes generally have higher carbon footprints because the biggest culprit to carbon footprints is buying stuff. Some ways to reduce your carbon footprint are to walk or take public transportation instead of driving, eat less meat (especially red meat), borrow instead of buying, and shop second-hand when needed. Carbon is a greenhouse gas. Its polar covalent bond of CO2 and geometrical composition allows it to absorb the infrared rays from the sun. Carbon vibrates, releasing half of the infrared rays back to the Earths surface in the form of heat. With the increase in CO2 emissions, more heat is getting trapped in our atmosphere, leading to global warming and climate change. This effect is why it is so important that we are conscious of our carbon footprint and do everything we can to lower our carbon usage on an individual and community level.