Shazma Ilyas1, Muhammad Ali Amir1
1Department of Environmental Sciences, Government College University Faisalabad
Introduction:
What is Carbon Footprint?
The entire amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions generated by a person or other entity (such as a nation, structure, or organization) is known as their “carbon footprint.” Direct emissions from energy production are included required to generate energy for the use of goods and services and to offset indirect emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels used in producing goods, heating, and transportation.
When assessing a person’s carbon footprint, other greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide methane, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are typically taken into account in addition to carbon dioxide. The largest carbon footprint per capita is found in the US. In accordance with the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Centre and the United Nations Development Programme, the average American had a per capita carbon footprint in 2004 that was larger than the average for the entire world.
Why and how does lowering carbon footprint help fight climate change?
Natural gas, coal, and oil are the top three sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. Decreasing the amount, you consume of these has a big influence on your carbon footprint, which has a big impact on the economy, the environment, and public health.
Carbon emissions have a negative impact on the environment. By lowering your carbon footprint, you may mitigate these effects because each GHG we emit adds to the global warming process.
The following are some detrimental environmental repercussions of carbon emissions:
• Rising Temperatures:
The atmosphere of the Earth has increased by 1.5°C since 1880. This may not seem like much, but these degrees alter the habitat ranges of plants, amplify rainfall and drought severity, reduce sea ice, and cause regional and seasonal temperature extremes.
Changing Precipitation Patterns:
Extreme weather occurrences (such as hurricanes, floods, and droughts) are increasing in frequency and severity. Areas closer to storm tracks are going to receive less precipitation and droughts, whilst storm-affected areas may experience higher precipitation and flooding.
Ocean Acidification:
As carbon dioxide (CO2) is released into the atmosphere, the ocean absorbs 30% of it, causing the ocean’s pH to drop and its acidity to rise. In the previous 200 years, the oceans’ pH has decreased by 0.1 pH units, which has resulted in a 30% increase in acidity. Aquatic life will disappear if it cannot adapt to this rapid acidification. Coral bleaching is a notable example of this, where coral eject the algae (zooxanthellae) residing in their tissues as a response of changes in temperature, light, or other environmental factors.
Reduce your carbon footprint to help offset all of the above-mentioned consequences of global warming.
Following are three lifestyle changes that can be adopted to reduce Carbon Footprint:
- Transportation
The transportation industry not only contributes to climate change, but it also significantly increases air pollution and oil extraction. We can use different modes of transportation to get around such as public transportation, biking, and walking, to lessen their carbon footprint.
- jog, bike riding and strolling
- Use the bus or train
- Combine Tour
- Driving an electric vehicle
- Use of Fuel-efficient vehicles
- Minimizing Your Household’s Carbon Footprint
Reduce air leaks and draughts in your home by caulking, insulating, and using weather strippingEnergy Upgrade California is an excellent example of one of the many states that provide incentives and programmes to help with this.
- Appliances:
- Put energy economy foremost whether getting a new heater, AC, dishwasher, or refrigerator.
- Lighting:
- Switch off every light you aren’t using before leaving a room. In place of incandescent bulbs, use compact fluorescent or LED bulbs.
- Thermostat:
Avoid adjusting it too high or low. To switch off the heat or air conditioning when you’re not home, install a programmed type.
- Solar:
Upgrade your home’s roof with solar panels. This option is a little more expensive than the ones mentioned before, but it’s a terrific method to lower your electricity expenditures, which in turn lowers your carbon impact.
- Cut Back on Carbon Footprint Through Food
Foods high in carbon include beef, cheese, and eggs. Fruit, vegetables, legumes, and nuts have much lower carbon footprints than these other foods. By being vegetarian, you can drastically reduce your personal carbon footprint.
- Eat food that is grown locally and organically:
This will help you reduce your carbon footprint because transporting food requires the use of fossil fuels, and many fertilizers are also fossil fuel-based, which raises atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide, methane, and other GHGs.Cut the dairy and beef out.
Raising cows consumes a lot of resources, and it’s especially dangerous if you buy beef from Brazil, where the livestock were grazed on land that was last covered in tropical forest but was cleared for agricultural use. Deforestation is one of the primary contributors to climate change and carbon emissions.
- Grow your own food:
Growing your own produce is a great way to cut costs, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and reduce your carbon footprint. If you have a backyard or garden, it is enjoyable to provide your family with inexpensive, wholesome, pesticide-free food.
- Smart cooking:
- Did you know that just 6% of the energy in a gas oven is used for cooking? And at 12%, an electric oven isn’t much better. On a hot day, using the oven will heat up the room, demanding the usage of a fan or air conditioner. In actuality, simmering on the stove is the most effective cooking technique.
- Make a shopping list in order to prevent impulse purchases and stay away from items with a lot of packing
- Purchase in bulk to cut costs and packing
- Check labels; an item with a big list of ingredients is likely to be highly processed and have a large carbon impact
- Cans of food, cardboard, and plastic have the highest carbon footprints, followed by frozen foods
- Moreover, avoid purchasing bottled water
What can we do about it as consumers?
As consumers, we must understand the connection between our actions and their effects on the environment. Consumers are to blame for between 60 and 70% of all both direct and indirect emissions. We have the power to affect the alteration that we so desperately need.
The effects change depending on income. The carbon footprints of low-income and high-income households differ by a factor of at least ten. As reported by Global Demographics, 21% of households make up 61% of the world’s income. Globally, a household is considered as high-income when its yearly revenue is $38,000 or more.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, a carbon footprint is associated with the activities of an individual or entity. Ocean acidification, A few of the adverse impacts of carbon emissions on ecosystems include increasing water levels, melting sea ice, changing precipitation patterns, and higher temperatures. It is possible to lessen the impacts of global climate change by utilizing fewer fossil fuels and reducing carbon footprints, switching to cleaner forms of transportation, insulating homes, using energy-efficient appliances, and changing to a more plant-based diet.
By cutting back on greenhouse gas emissions, we can reduce the rate of global warming. This will aid biodiversity on earth in adapting to the changing environment and lessen the number of people forced to leave their homes due to coastal flooding. The battle against climate change and the conservation of the earth for future generations ultimately depend on us lowering our carbon footprint.
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