A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by our actions; actions such as the food we eat, how we travel, the things we buy, and where we buy them from, and our home life.
For example, did you know that:
- a large proportion of greenhouse gas emissions comes from food production, and meat and dairy are associated with much higher carbon emissions than plant-based food.
- Travel often represents a significant part of people’s footprint. In London rush hour 32% of vehicles are now bikes. Why not build 20 minutes of cycling into your daily travels and see your fitness and sense of wellbeing improve at the same time.
- After first cutting your emissions, for example by using a different mode of transport, you could offset the emissions that you are unable to reduce using transparent and recognized certified carbon offsets. Search for Gold Standard offsets.
- Using a dishwasher rather than washing up under running water may save you an extra 6000 litres of water a year! Using less water reduces the pressure on your local rivers and lakes, leaving more water in nature to support our precious wildlife.
- Around 10,000 items of clothing are sent to landfill every 5 minutes. Upcycling is not only environmentally responsible, but very fashionable right now. Check the internet before throwing something out and see people`s creativity upcycling everything from picture frames to baby bouncers.
Find out your personal carbon footprint score using the WWF calculator. This clever tool also gives you guidance on how to reduce your impact.