A Carbon
footprint is the total sets of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an
organization, event, product or person. However, the total carbon footprint
cannot be calculated because of the large amount of data required and the fact
that carbon dioxide can be produced natural occurrences. Therefore, Wright,
Kemp, and Williams of the journal Carbon Management have suggested a more
practicable definition:
“A measure
of total amount of carbon dioxide and methane emissions of a defined
population, system or activity, considering all relevant sources, sinks and
storage within the spatial and temporal boundary of the population, system or
activity of interest. Calculated as carbon dioxide equivalent using the
relevant 100-year global warming potential.”
Greenhouse
gases can be emitted through consumption and production of things such as food,
fuels, etc. It can also be produced through transport and land clearance. There
are many ways to produce greenhouse gases. Most of it are the things we do every
day.
An
individual, nation, or organization’s carbon footprint can be measured by
undertaking GHG emissions assessment or other calculative activities denoted as
carbon accounting. Once the size of a carbon footprint is known, a strategy can
be devised to reduce it. The key way to determine a carbon footprint is to look
at the materials used to make the item. The larger the size of the material,
the larger the footprint will be.
There are
people suggesting that the most effective way to decrease a carbon footprint is
to either decrease the amount of energy needed for production or to decrease
the dependence on carbon emitting fuels. At a young age, children should be
taught how to reduce their own carbon footprint. As a student myself; I want to
help in reducing the carbon footprint. Therefore I have researched and found out
how to reduce carbon footprint in some simple ways:
- Conserve water.
- Switch of lights and computers when not in use.
- Reduce, reuse, recycle.
- Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.
- Eat healthy foods. Preferably vegetables because vegetables take much less energy to produce.
- Don’t waste food.
- Drive better.
- Properly insulate your home.
- Plant a tree.
- Use energy-saving items.
Such simple
ways can help minimize the consumption of carbon in Earth. If people will
cooperate and take action, our environment will be improved. We should all
unite to make our world a better place! Let us all care about mother nature who
gives us our daily needs: the land we walk on, the sea, trees, and more.
About my own
carbon footprint, there are times when I consume too much energy. The main
reason is that I use my laptop and phone often. I am aware of this; therefore,
I am trying to consume less time using my laptop and phone. Though, I fail at
some point in the process. But I am trying to do my best in helping reduce
carbon footprint. I don’t really have much problem about this case since I
commute and walk to my home; I eat homemade foods, have energy-saving products
at home and use a small amount of water every day. It’s just that I can’t help
using gadgets. Habit, I guess? Anyway, I hope everyone will realize this and
reflect too. People must be aware of what is happening to the world. Because whatever
we do to nature, shall be done to ourselves.
