BaCCC/Video Summaries/What Is a Carbon Footprint? How to Calculate and Reduce It?

Video Summary

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

A carbon footprint is the amount of CO2 equivalent that is released into the atmosphere as a result of our activities.
There are many websites that calculate your carbon footprint by factoring in your food, clothes, gadgets, etc.
We can reduce our carbon footprint through carbon offsets and by addressing its root causes.
It is important to note that offsetting does not keep the fossil fuels or carbon in the ground; it just transfers the problem onto another project somewhere else in the world.
Carbon offsets should be seen as a great way to fund tree planting and renewable energy projects around the world in order to transition away from fossil fuels, but not as a long-term solution.
Examples of addressing the root causes include living in a smaller home, improving its insulation, using less electricity, walking and biking, using an electric vehicle, flying less, eating less meat and being smart with investments.
The 10% of the population that earns the most money have just about the same collective carbon footprint as the other 90%, so it is the entire system that is dysfunctional.
The best way to reduce our carbon footprint is to take action and vote for those who will help create the new systems that we need.