How Big Is Your Carbon Footprint?

Carbon footprint is a measure of the impact of our activities on the environment and in particular on climate change. Click here to see in how many ways we impact the environment.

We are a consumptive society because of the abundance we enjoy due to advances in technology and production capabilities since mid 1900s. A vast majority of activities we undertake in our daily lives, as individuals, organizations and communities, affect our environment. As individuals, what we eat and drink in, how long we drive, how cool or warm we keep our homes, and how much recycle and waste we produce affects the environment. Up-size food servings, plastics containers, excessive transportation result in direct and indirect emission of CO2 and greenhouse effect. The higher the waste we produce, the more we pollute our seas and quicker we fill-in the land fills.

Collectively, as business organizations and communities, how we choose to run our factories and offices, what material we use for packaging, how frequently we fly and the size of cars we drive, all affect the Mother Nature. The more we consume as businesses, the faster we deplete natural resources. Slowing down and using less of our resources will help in sustaining our environment for long. There exist a favorable consumer opinion about companies that are putting in efforts to become green and conserve.

There is awareness about the adverse effect of unabated consumption that comes with affluence. How we all respond and react to this awareness and efforts by Governments will shape up our future. What good the innovations, fancy products and services would do, if our children have to fight for water, face drastic weather changes due to global warming and are not able to enjoy the possessions they would have?

Businesses are thinking green, however, wide scale efforts are required to sustain the conservation efforts and yield positive results. Especially for Canadians, who have much bigger average carbon footprint at 20 MT compared to 11 MT average footprint for people in the other industrial nations. We need to act faster otherwise we would turn green but with envy because other nations will leave us way behind in sustaining better quality of life. According to carbonfootprint.com, the worldwide target to combat climate change is 2 MT.

It requires a paradigm shift and a change in lifestyle to move from Consumption to Conservation. It is easier said than done but I think it is the best way forward. Like I mentioned above, we are aware of the importance of conservation, however, it does not always reflect in our attitudes and behavior. We all need to actively contribute as individuals and businesses and make it a habit to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse emissions, other wise we might leave a place like this for our children.

Check out how big is your Carbon footprint by clicking here.