Are there aspects of your daily life that you know contribute to your carbon footprint but you are unwilling to compromise to change them? In other words, what about your life is “off the table” when it comes to carbon emissions? It's OK to admit it- we all have these cherished behaviors!
Off the Table? >
transportation
When I did the Carbon Footprint Calculator, I was below average in all my categories except for transportation. My transportation section was about 5X more than the average person in California. The main reason my transportation was so high was I think that my relatives all live in New York. If we want to see them, it makes the most sense if the 3 people in my family fly to New York, than for all 12 of them to fly here. Seeing my family is not something I am willing to give up.
I agree. Seeing your family is important, and often people need to fly to get there. A big problem is the amount of resources that planes use and the greenhouse gases they expel. Is there any way to reduce their impact on the environment?
That's a good point. Most of my family lives in India and so I go there every few years. It does increase my transportation. The only way to get there is by going on an airplane. It would be nice if they could come up with a more eco friendly way of traveling internationally and domestically.
I completely agree with all of you. I too noticed that a large amount of my carbon emissions came from traveling by plane and while I understand how harmful air travel is to the environment, it is also important to consider how beneficial it is to humanity as a whole. Exposure to different cultures is necessary for understanding those same cultures. As it is there already exists a lack of knowledge about different countries and it is this ignorance that promotes harmful stereotypes. If we limit travel we limit our capacity to learn from different practices. I agree our methods of transportation must be improved upon but not necessarily limited.
My carbon footprint mostly came from travel as well. I do fly across country to see family and make lots of trips to and from school. I could take public transportation but it would be difficult.
That is understandable seeing as how your family lives far away. Some things can't be helped when people are far. So your carbon footprint for transportation is perfectly okay because it is reasonable.