BaCCC/Module 4/Lesson 2/Part 1

Module 4, Lesson 2: Your Carbon Footprint, Part 1

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Introduction

This lesson talks about the carbon footprint concept as a starting place for climate change mitigation strategies. It is designed to ensure that we all understand what we and our families contribute to climate change through the carbon footprints of our homes, whole communities and particular sectors of the economy. This lesson will then look at mitigation strategies that you and your family can implement to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Lastly, it will list mitigation strategies that support the marginalised people in your community (e.g., unemployed youth, women and girls, and those who are ill or disabled), your country and the world.

Lesson Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:

• calculate and evaluate your family’s carbon footprint;
• describe mitigation strategies to lower greenhouse gas emissions that you and your family can implement; and
• list mitigation strategies that support vulnerable people.

Terminology

The following terms are important in understanding the science behind climate change. If you want to remember them, write their meanings in your learning journal as you encounter them in the course content.

• carbon footprint
• marginalised
• mitigation strategies

Calculate and evaluate your family’s carbon footprint

“What is a carbon footprint?” you ask.

What is a Carbon Footprint? How to Calculate and Reduce It? (7:15)

First, watch this video to find out: What is a Carbon Footprint? How to Calculate and Reduce It? (7:15)

What is a Carbon Footprint? How to Calculate and Reduce It? (7:15)

(You can adjust the playback speed and/or turn on subtitles/captions.)

If you have trouble accessing the video, a summary is available below.

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Carbon Footprint Definition, Calculation, Reduction

As discussed in Lesson 1, the human causes of climate change – mainly the greenhouse gases that we emit – are the primary contributors to many of today’s environmental issues, including pollution, global warming and climate change.

Although globally the main emitters of greenhouse gases are the fossil fuel industries and other industrialised sectors (mainly energy production, industrial farming and food production with deforestation, steel and cement), we all leave a mark on the environment. Think of your carbon footprint as your personal impact. In technical terms, your carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gases you produce in units of carbon dioxide.

This footprint is determined by your daily lifestyle and activities, such as travel (car, bus, train, plane, etc.), electrical use, consumption of products and services, the foods you eat, etc.

There are a number of free resources online that show how to calculate your carbon footprint:

• Carbon Footprint lists practically every country in the world (note that Eswatini may still be listed as Swaziland):

Calculator

• The Nature Conservancy:

Carbon Footprint Calculator

• CoolClimate Network:

Calculator

Keep in mind that the global average carbon footprint is about three to four tonnes. People in different parts of the world have carbon footprints that are higher or lower than that. Canadians, for example, have a very large carbon footprint (about 15 tonnes per person per year) and will have to cut their carbon footprints by 95% by 2050!

Activity

Find the bar graph image titled Total Per-Capita Carbon Footprint by Country and Sector at the following link (scroll down until you find it):

How Canadians Can Cut Carbon Footprints

Use your critical thinking skills (and perhaps a bit of research) to figure out why Canada’s and Finland’s per capita carbon footprint might be so large. Why might Indonesia’s and India’s be so small? Jot down in your learning journal at least two reasons for each country.

Keep in mind that “there is no universal sustainable lifestyle. If one must use a car, then an electric car in Iceland might make sense, where 100 per cent of electricity comes from renewables, but not in India where electricity is primarily generated from coal.” Hot or Cool Institute, 1.5-Degree Lifestyles: Towards a Fair Consumption Space for All

1.5-Degree Lifestyles: Towards a Fair Consumption Space for All

Activity

Go ahead and calculate your family’s carbon footprint now. Compare it with your friends’ calculations. Using local data and averages, you can also estimate the carbon footprint of your neighbourhood or community. Next, try to find out your country’s total carbon footprint and average footprint per person.