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 >
International Traveling contributes to High carbon footprint
Despite using public transport everyday to and from school and purchasing local food and products, I still have a carbon footprint of 29959, which is significantly higher than the rest of the world. The reason is mainly because I study aboard (I am from China and currently live in the US) and travels internationally every year. Last year alone I flew across the Pacific ocean for four time. Without such traveling, my footprint will be roughly 4000 and well below the US average. However, airplane is the most common and pragmatic way for trans-oceanic transportation. What do you think I can do to reduce my footprint?
Realistically, there is currently no viable alternative to air travel, and as you said, your footprint without air travel is well below the US average. The only option would be to travel less, which isn't possible for some people. As I discussed elsewhere, engineers need to focus on sustainable air travel for the future