Shrink Your Carbon Footprint

Think about what happens if you walk across your kitchen floor with muddy sneakers. Chances are, you leave a trail of filthy footprints. Now think about what would happen if you and your entire family tracked mud across the kitchen all day, every day. The floor would get super gross. 

Earth’s kind of like your kitchen floor, except instead of muddy footprints, we’re all leaving behind another kind of trail, and it’s one that’s not so easy to clean up. This trail is called a carbon footprint. It’s a measure of the carbon dioxide produced by your daily activities. 

The problem with having a big carbon footprint is that carbon dioxide is linked to climate change. That’s because carbon dioxide is what’s called a greenhouse gas—a type of gas that keeps warm air trapped close to the planet. This trapped warm air causes Earth’s temperature to rise.

Greenhouse gases aren’t entirely bad—without them, the planet would be too cold to support life. The problem is, when the temperature rises too much, too fast, it can contribute to environmental disasters such as floods, droughts, storms, and heat waves. Experts say we’re already experiencing climate change as a result of rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

That’s where your carbon footprint comes in. Turns out, almost all of your daily activities contribute to your footprint. One big example is driving a car, which emits carbon dioxide as it burns gas for fuel. 

But that doesn’t mean you have to vow to walk everywhere from now on. The immediate goal is to reduce carbon emissions, not eliminate them. According to a United Nations report, if we cut carbon emissions by 50 percent over the next decade, we can avoid the worst effects of climate change. One powerful way to reach that goal is to ensure our carbon footprints are as small as possible. 

You may be feeling confused about how to shrink your carbon footprint. Take the following quiz to separate the facts from  some myths about your carbon footprint, then get ready to save the planet! 

Myth! Buying any new clothes—even ones that are marketed as being kind to the environment—increases your carbon footprint. In fact, producing just one new plain white cotton T-shirt creates the same amount of carbon emissions as driving a car 35 miles. Those emissions add up quickly: The fashion industry is responsible for 10 percent of carbon emissions each year. 

To reduce your fashion footprint: Shop for secondhand and vintage clothing from local thrift shops, hold clothing swaps with friends, learn to sew and mend your clothes, or ask a parent to join a local “Buy Nothing” Facebook group where people give away gently used items like clothes and shoes. If there’s a must-have item you can’t find used, do some research to make sure it’s legitimately friendly to the environment—some companies are guilty of greenwashing, a form of deceptive marketing that makes their products appear to have a smaller carbon footprint than they actually do. 

Fact!  While it’s true that the beef industry is a big producer of carbon emissions, going vegan (not eating any animal products) or vegetarian (not eating meat, poultry, or fish) aren’t the only ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Try skipping meat just once a week (see “Meatless Mondays”). And don’t waste food. Each year, Americans send 30 million tons of wasted food to landfills. The rotting food produces methane, another greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. 

To reduce food waste: Ask whoever does the shopping in your house to buy only as much food as your family will use before it goes bad. Save leftovers for another meal, store bread in the fridge to extend its life, and throw bruised or overripe fruit in the freezer for a smoothie later. 

Fact! There are a lot of ways you can make your outing environmentally friendly and still have a blast. One big step is to cut back on how much single-use plastic you use while you’re out. (Think plastic utensils and straws at a fast-food restaurant, plastic candy wrappers at the movies, a plastic water bottle you take on a hike, plastic bags from gift shops.) These items have a big carbon footprint because of the carbon dioxide released in their production. They also often wind up in landfills and the ocean, where they contribute to the death of millions of marine animals and seabirds each year. 

To cut back on plastic: Bring reusable water bottles and straws, pack your own snacks in reusable containers, and carry a tote bag for purchases. You can also shrink your footprint by taking public transportation or walking instead of driving to your destination.

Myth!  “More and more kids are raising their voices—together with others from all over the world—to tell adults they want a safe future,” says climate activist Mary DeMocker. “You don’t need money, celebrity, or connections to speak up for a future you can thrive in.” 

To make yourself heard: Join extracurricular clubs that fight climate change, or pair with a teacher to start one if none exists at your school. Encourage school administrators to reduce food waste and find alternatives to single-use plastics in the cafeteria. If you’re 18 or older, vote for candidates who support reducing carbon emissions. Even if you’re not old enough to vote, you and your friends can contact your local representatives and ask them to support legislation that combats climate change.