If you don't believe in climate change this post isn't for you. This post is for logical people. The most recent report from the UN on climate change was the most startling yet - but is it enough to make you try to change your carbon footprint?
Welcome to the hilarious world of carbon footprints!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!! They're so funny!!!! Sorry, yeah, carbon footprints aren't intrinsically funny but I figured if I started out with a BANG you'd stick with me. Said every high school girl ever.
I've done my best to make this information as digestible as a piece of dry toast - but the fun kind with an outline of the Virgin Mary burned into it to make it interesting and a bit alarming.
So let's get started then.
Table of Contents
What's a Carbon Footprint
A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases produced and emitted into the atmosphere. This can refer to a business, individual or country. These greenhouse gases collect in the atmosphere and trap heat. BINGO. You have global warming and climate change because heat from the earth can't escape the atmosphere.
The good news is if we continue on like this we won't need to travel to tropical destinations for vacation because wherever you live will be a tropical destination. Also you'll possibly be dead. So there's that.
Your personal carbon footprint is a reflection of how good or shit you are in terms of controlling the greenhouse gases your life/lifestyle emits. A BIG carbon footprint means your particular life leads to a lot of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. A small carbon footprint means your life barfs fewer greenhouse gases into the air.
How big or small your carbon footprint is is based on the amount and how you travel, how much energy your home uses, how much shopping you do and what you eat. Among, ya know, other things.
So What are Greenhouse Gases?
Greenhouse gases are the bad things that block heat from escaping the atmosphere. They include Carbon Dioxide (from burning oil, coal or gas - think heating/cooling your home ), Methane (from the production and transport of oil, coal and gas and livestock - think cows/beef/sheep/goats ), Nitrous Oxide (agricultural fertilizers, and poop - again thinking livestock raised for you to eat ) and Fluorinated gases (from refrigerators, car air conditioning, foam production and aerosols ).
In very general terms the more you heat or cool your home, the more meat you eat, the more you shop & the more travel you do - the greater your carbon footprint.
non-expert but logical analysis by me
If you have your air conditioner set so cold you look like Jennifer Aniston in an episode of Friends, then you are creating more greenhouse gases than someone who keeps the temperature more moderate.
Both Canadians and Americans have the Bigfoot of carbon footprints. Only outdone by Australians. That's in terms of individual use. As far as countries go, China is the worst for emitting greenhouse gases, followed by the U.S.
Right now, average individuals in Australia, Canada and the US have HUGE carbon footprints, emitting 16-20 tonnes per person per year.
In order to stop the world from imploding - or exploding - we need to reduce that to 2 tonnes per person per year. Holy shit is right.
So how can you start to reduce your carbon footprint? Here's how based on the 4 biggest culprits in your life: travel, energy use, shopping and food consumption.
Travelling
Microchanges
- Drive Less Cars are major emitters so before you hop in it to go to the store don't. Either walk to the store if you can or just plan ahead so you're taking ONE trip for several things instead of several trips for one thing each time.
- Fly Less Even ONE trip in an airplane is monumentally bad. One flight from Toronto to Florida for example produces the same amount of greenhouse gases as driving for an entire year.
Can't stop flying because (insert what's probably a made up reason but justifiable in your head here)? Then you should try to do these things.
- Fly direct. Flying direct might cost more but it uses less energy because there are less take offs and landings (where major emissions occur)
- Fly during the day. I couldn't begin to explain it but there are sciencey reasons why flying during the day produces less emissions.
Macrochanges
- Make the next car you buy electric. Just remember to scream wildly out the window as you're driving because nobody can hear those cars coming.
- Don't fly.
- When you fly vow to offset your emissions.
Offsetting your emissions basically means giving money to organizations that put money into funding green energy or reducing emissions in other ways. A lot of airlines give you this option when you buy your ticket. Honestly. It's a thing.
Energy use
Microchanges
- Turn your water heater down to 120 F / 49 C. Unless you're using your bathtub to cook hard boiled eggs, you don't need it hotter than that.
- Turn your air conditioner up or your furnace down by 2 degrees.
- Use an energy provider that has a green option (power provided by wind or solar) or use offsetting. In Ontario, where I'm from, a company called Bullfrog charges you a fee every month that they invest in green energy to offset the fossil fuel energy your home uses.
- Finally switch to LED lightbulbs. Seriously. Where are you even GETTING regular old lightbulbs?? You bought cases of them when you heard the switch was coming didn't you?
- Unplug instead of turn off. (the television, coffee maker, any other appliances)
- Use a laptop instead of a desktop computer (they use less energy.)
- Trees and shrubs. Plant 'em around your house. They can cool your home so much that your air conditioner won't need to come on nearly as often. And in the winter they protect your house from cold blowing winds.
- Dry your clothing on a clothesline.
If you ever see a farmhouse on the prairies or anywhere with open land surrounding it you'll notice the house is usually surrounded by trees. It's to protect the house from blowing winds and sun. So be smart like a farmer. Insulate your home with trees and bushes.
Macrochanges
- Go solar. Solar panels, solar roofing shingles, solar lighting.
- Make your home more energy efficient with insulation or new windows. Even just filling cracks with spray foam can make a big difference. But energy efficient windows, doors and skylights can make a bigger difference.
Shopping
Microchanges
- Choose natural fibres over synthetics for clothing.
- Shop Fair Trade. That means looking for the Fair Trade logo on food and clothing. It means it was ethically made and sustainably sourced. Don't worry. There's nice Fair Trade clothing. You won't have to dress like a drunk Sherpa.
- Calm the hell down with your midnight online anxiety induced shopping binges. The manufacturing, shipping and disposal of that $10 pair of pants that you only wear once is contributing to climate change.
You and the environment are better off if you buy ONE good thing that lasts and looks good for years than succumbing to all the Instagram ads for what is basically disposable clothing.
At Christmas nobody wants to see your family sitting on a bed wearing matching plaid pyjamas anyway. I know. You thought we liked it. We don't. We know you're just a regular family that normally wears old tee shirts to bed. It's O.K.
- Buy used and vintage. That goes for everything. Clothing, tables, chairs, make up. Just kidding. You can buy new make up. Nobody wants you to get a rash or pink eye.
- Fix stuff. K, you need to learn to fix your own shit or pay someone to fix it. Because throwing it out and getting a new one isn't a good option. Also complain to companies about their shit products. Everyone knows that things aren't made the way they used to be. The reason for that is so people throw shit out and buy new shit that will eventually break and the cycle continues with big companies making lots of money.
Macrochanges
- Stop shopping. Seriously. Just stop. Find another way to make yourself happy or reward yourself. Get a different hobby. Learn to make your own moonshine or make really awesome toilet paper covers or dog biscuits or something.
Food
83% of your personal carbon footprint
is created by FOOD.
THIS is the place you can make the biggest impact on your carbon footprint.
Microchanges
- Eat Less Meat That's right. Just less meat. You don't have to give up burgers or steaks entirely. If you eat meat 7 days a week just give yourself one meatless day in the week. If you already cut down on meat, do it some more. Or swap beef for chicken.
WHY IS BEEF BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?
It takes a lot of feed, land and water to raise cattle. And they BURP endless amounts of methane into the environment. Sometimes they fart too, but it's the burping that's destroying us.
I swear to god if you had told me that cow burps were more dangerous than rusty old carnival rides I never would have believed you.
The effect of raising cattle on the environment is multifaceted. They take a lot of feed, water and land to raise and once raised they burp a LOT producing one of those sneaky greenhouse gases - methane. To raise the beef, forested land is often clear cut. This takes away the one thing in this world that's silently working to reduce greenhouse gases: trees.
The creation of *one* pound of ground beef releases 14.8 pounds of CO2 in the the air.
One mature tree can absorb 48 pounds of CO2 per year.
The number one thing we want to do is reduce the amount of CO2 in the air. Trees do that naturally every second of every day. But don't be fooled. Just planting trees isn't going to fix this. We need to do other things too.
- Grow Your Own The biggest contribution to greenhouse gases is in the production of food as opposed to the delivery of it. Eat food that's in season and grow what you can at home. Growing your own helps reduce greenhouse gases produced by large commercial grow operations plus you aren't hopping in your car to go to the grocery store as much. Also chances are what you're growing is a Black Krim tomato as opposed to a 2,000 lb Black Angus cow. However, having backyard chickens is a good way to reduce your carbon footprint.
I know these seem like stupid little changes that'll never amount to anything. Just because something seems insignificant doesn't mean it is.
- Don't waste food. Like I mentioned above, food is probably the main source of your entire carbon footprint. Wasting food is like directly shooting all of the greenhouse gases into the atmosphere with a tee shirt canon for no reason at all.
Only buy what you need. 🥒 Make a menu for the week and buy the exact ingredients you need for that. 🍽 Rework leftovers into something new or suck it up and just eat leftovers.🍗 Scan your fridge every week to see what you need to use up before it goes bad. 🥜 Don't impulse buy bulk if you can't use it up.
If it comes in a container you could safely plummet over Niagara Falls in, you probably don't need that much of it.
Macrochanges
Become Vegan. Going vegan is the #1 way you can reduce the carbon footprint produced by your food consumption. By doing this you eliminate 2 of the biggest greenhouse gas culprits - meat & dairy.
Become Vegetarian*. That's O.K. You're not willing to give up cream in your coffee or scrambled eggs. Going vegetarian is still going to make a huge difference in your personal carbon footprint.
*Or you can be a pretend vegetarian like me. I eat meat, but only a couple of times a week.
Continue to eat meat but grow all of the other food you consume. Sounds hard and it is. But it can be done. I grow the majority of my own vegetables, fruit, dried beans and some of my grains on a 40' x 40' rented community garden plot. Throughout the summer I preserve everything for the winter. To be honest, by February I'm really sick of canned beans and root vegetables. #truth
6 Easy Things You Can Do TODAY
- Look through your fridge for food that's getting old and use it.
- Make roasted tomato sauce out of tomatoes that are getting past their prime.
2. Fill cracks in your house foundation and around windows with a can of that spray foam. The aerosol is bad and the foam component is bad. But it's offset by the benefits of insulating your house.
3. Walk to the store instead of driving.
4. Turn your heat down or your air conditioning up by 2 degrees.
5. That sour cream container you're about to throw out or recycle can be washed and used to store other stuff like your yogurt or roasted tomato sauce in the freezer. Which only needs to be set to 0 F / -18 C by the way. Stick a thermometer in your freezer and increase the temperature if it's needlessly low. That's a bonus tip for you.
6. Keeping your car windows rolled up so your toots don't escape isn't an efficient way to reduce methane. Turning the air conditioner in your car off and rolling down the windows instead is. If you do go for a drive today roll down the windows instead of blasting the air.
If you made it all the way to the end of this, thank you. It's easy to think this is someone else's responsibility. That someone, somewhere, won't let the planet burst into flames. But it's already happening. So clearly that approach isn't working. For any of us.
You don't have to change everything. But you have to change something. And you need to start doing it today. Don't make it a bigger deal than it is. Nobody's asking you to eat cow farts. Just eat a bit less meat, don't buy garbage you don't need and change your thermostat by a couple of degrees.
The action isn't a big deal but the impact is.
marymotherofgodfreys
I agree with almost all of the suggestions in this post and have implemented most of them all of my life. But not to save the planet, to be honest, mostly because I’m frugal (or cheap😬) and was raised that way. Wasting food was a sin, most everything that breaks can be fixed, and turn out the lights when you leave the room.
I didn’t know it made a difference to unplug instead of turn off! So I learned something new. Wishing all of my outlets were waist high, but still doable.
I am leery of the science behind climate change. Yeah, I said it. But it’s just because a shit ton of scientists worked at Monsanto and other pesticide companies and what they cooked up wasn’t so trustworthy.
When our community stopped collecting recycling I was upset. Why? Then I looked into the Landfill that they decided to send it to. It’s not like the landfill I remember seeing as a kid when we visited my aunt in “the city”. It’s not piles of garbage covered in seagulls. It captures the methane that the garbage produces and converts it to usable energy.
Prior to this process, the majority of our country’s recycling was shipped to China. On a slow boat. And that doesn’t make sense.
https://www.epa.gov/lmop/basic-information-about-landfill-gas
I always learn something from Karen’s posts while being very entertained, have enjoyed them for years, hopefully will for many more to come.
But judging others’ choices….that’s a trend now, isn’t it?
Sarah Radford
Great blog - I really enjoy it!
I will also say that I do believe in human-influenced climate change.
That being said, while it may feel good to pat ourselves on our backs, focusing on changing individual behaviors because of the goodness of people's hearts will not make the kind of large-scale change that is required to turn this planet around. That attitude is rooted in privilege and, unfortunately, most people do not have the privilege of following their hearts (and not their pocketbooks) in this matter.
We need to focus on systems-level changes that change the equation for individuals, but most importantly for large corporations and governments. I'm not saying don't grow your own veggies or dry your clothes on the line, but most important is to get engaged in your local/state or province/country governmental policies.
We can do it, but it has to be TOGETHER.
Leslie
If you’re not part of the solution you are part of the problem. Climate change is a reality. It’s been one for decades. We only have this fragile spaceship Earth. Magical thinking isn’t going to rescue us. We’re the ones that have to do it and these micro and macro changes Karen put forth are all helpful suggestions. If we all do our part, odds are better we can leave a living planet for future generations to come.
Miriam Kliewe
Individual carbon footprint choices are miniscule in comparison to the massive impact that corporations and governments can have if they treat climate change with the seriousness it deserves. In fact, the whole concept of a personal carbon footprint was a deceptive ad campaign created by BP to draw attention away from the fossil fuel industry and their responsibility for climate change.
Just as those who made recycling a personal responsibility (recycle your cardboard and cans!) instead of making Amazon and Coca Cola responsible for using less single-use packaging, this is yet another way to make us forget that we need to VOTE both at the ballot box and with our dollars for people and companies who actually have strategies to change their policies.
Eileen
Thank you Karen.
And...smart way to winnow the chaff.
: )
PS I am insanely jealous of those black kale plants. They look like something out of a northern Renaissance still life (but hopefully tasted better).
Karen
"And…smart way to winnow the chaff.". LOL!! ~ karen
Penny
My jawbone hit my sternum as I read the comments from first George, and then the rest of the feckwits on the Conspiracy Belief bus. Bloody good luck to them as they trundle off down the highway to hell!
Glad to see that the majority of Karen's readers have eyes, ears and brains that are fully functional and lots of us are at least trying to reduce, reuse and recycle.
All great tips, Karen, thank you.
Sally
Ooh - this is frustrating! Some of the comments don’t have a 'reply' field underneath them 😖.
Kat - the other 1 - without being harsh or disparaging, you do realise that 'God' is a human construct and not a proven thing either?…
Kat - the other 1
All but one of "them" are, yes.
But when you have a relationship with the one living God, you know He is real.
I have sent a prayer your way. If that that offends you, then A. If you don't believe, what's it matter if I waste my time praying? And B. Deal with it. :) I do mean that in the nicest way possible.
Nancy Ann
Now, Oliver.......credibility isn't everything....she's still funny, just not in this column. And she has lots of instructions about how to fix things. Most of the people on here are so far left, it's amazing, either that or the righties don't bother to argue.
Georgia Girl
Karen, Thank you ! This was great and so helpful! I know I ain’t gonna save the world single-handedly, but at least I CAN do MY part. Thanks for laying it out - they didn’t teach this shit in school back in my time -1960’s.
I appreciate you and I know your Mom is proud.
Barbara Exum
We already do most of the things you suggested, Karen. I have read comments until my eyes are tired but I did not see the thing we could do to REALLY help our earth: birth control! I have been concerned about this since the late 1960's and tend to boo instead of clap when people announce proudly they have 5 or 6 or even more children. Think how much (electricity, water, food, wood, plastic, autos, etc. etc. etc.) we can save by not having more than 2 children, unless they are adopted. And don't scream "It's my body, hands and laws off of me!" This is the only planet we have and we have to share it. When a couple take much more than their fair share, it's being selfish and unthinking, and that's what they are when they produce large families to gobble up the earth's resources. So it compounds so much of the problems we're now facing. It is everyone's concern, not just one family.
Also, another thing you can do to help control waste is buying at thrift stores. Some stores support worth while charities while not adding to the large amount of clothing in dumps.
Thank you for your blog, Karen!
Kat
Birth control would help more if people understand how to take it properly. ( For example, no one is going to tell you that for a normal woman with normal hormones it can still take up to 9 months for birth control pills to be fully effective.)
Also, some people react very badly to it (like me, and bio identical hormones don't work for bc for some reason - &
bio-identical ones being the only ones I don't react to).
Then others, like one of my cousins, nothing worked for her, she certainly didn't plan on having 14 kids, just nothing worked.
And her husband seems adverse to getting snipped.
That there is a problem, more men should step up and get snipped! (My dad has certainly made enough, more than enough 🙄, jokes about getting snipped in front of him for everyone to get the picture, lol! Unfortunately, I think she took it personally and thought we were judging her... haven't seen her in years. :(
Anyway... I too wish more people would think more thoroughly about having kids too (before doing so!)
Instead of just passing around boxes of condoms at schools I wish they'd at least tell them abstinence is an Option.
I personally have chosen to wait till marriage, and will only have fostered or adopted children. There are so many in need of homes as is. Makes me so sad.
(Note, my choice to wait for marriage to have sex is not a judgement on anyone who doesn't, but my "lifestyle" choice is just as valid!)
....
Isabelle
Thanks for writing this post! We are destroying the planet and if these small steps can help, count me in!
Nancy
Wow, the comments section sure got interesting on this one! I'm with you for most of it. Except the vegan/vegetarian bit. I totally respect the folks who want to go that route, it's just not for me. I eat meat about once a week and that's enough.
I actually raise grass fed livestock and I still don't eat meat everyday. We've estimated our carbon footprint (animals included) on a few online calculators just for fun and we're carbon negative as far as we can tell. Also we've been building soil for 15 years with our assortment of critters so I'm pretty happy with our progress. If you need a steak, I'd suggest you search out and support your local farmers that are raising meat responsibly. It supports the local soil builders. Also the farmer's market is where it's at!
Keep up the great work Karen. Thank you for the encouragement to all do our part.
Deb from Maryland
Thanks for this post Karen. I can't do all that you've suggested, but I am more aware of how what I do and how I do it impacts others. I am flummoxed by the "disappointed in you and leaving" posts. I been following you about five years now, and you ALWAYS post about how to be more efficient, self sufficient and ecological in life. This post is not divergent! It's been my observation that being pro-active is way more productive towards a positive outcome than having to react when the dye has been cast (so to speak). WTF George (total troll), Andrea, Janzhouse, Guess Again, DP and Kara Lee? You don't have to agree - say it and unsubscribe. You don't HAVE to be here. But your clap backs to the those of us that don't agree with you is the epitome of trolling. Just leave - go commiserate with those that totally agree with all your opinions and keep your head up your... in the sand, live your life simply - just not in the The Art of Doing Stuff comment section.
Irene
Oh look. Some children on the playground are stamping their little feet and screaming that they're not Karen's friend anymore because she isn't playing the game their way. 😂
Helen
Thanks for a very upbeat post about a subject that many find too touchy to even mention. I’ve been on this planet a long time and the climate change & crisis is real. I try to do many of the things Karen suggested to reduce trash and emissions. What I find super-frustrating is that So Much food that could be packaged in waxed cartons is in PLASTIC !! To those who claim they will unsubscribe because Karen mentioned REALITY- Adios ! You should probably not be reading her posts anyway .... she’s going to be herself and be honest ! And fun 🤩!
Petra
Thanks for your commonsense suggestions. Most of which my family already adhere to, but it is good to be reminded. Actually many of them are what my grandparents lived by. They were caring, intelligent and socially evolved people who loved this beautiful planet.
As my granddaughter loves to quote "There is no Plan-et B"
Someday the dinosaurs (functional brain stem only) will die out. I hope they don't take us with them.
Linda
Good job Karen,
Haters gonna hate and no one will miss them.
Everything you have suggested should already be what people are doing. Especially if you intend to leave this planet to your children and grands.
Letícia
The trouble with the article is that it is common sense. There is a lot I already do, not because it’s green, but because it’s frugal and common sense. One thing that just ticks me off is the “don’t fly” recommendation: I live in Brazil. I love art museums. The closest good art museums are in Europe and North America. I haven’t been to a decent art museum I three years and as soon as I can I will.
Rebecca
Thank you so much Karen for stating these truths! It starts with each of us.. just starting with a few changes makes a difference. I will say, it can be lonely making changes like this.. not many want to follow. It’s a shame. So thank you for speaking out.. it does my heart good😉.
Kristina
Hey Karen, I'm in ag (big, "corporate" ag, no less, i.e. my family farm is incorporated, haha). It is astounding to me how many in my profession of people who *work outside in the weather* and need stuff like clean air and rain and a predictable climate to make a living have been convinced to disregard the evidence of their own senses by very effective propaganda. As I sit inside at the end of working in this too-hot day, sinuses shredded by the shitty air quality from the fires that have become the new norm this time of year in California, I just feel like weeping for my children. My eldest daughter is an environmental scientist and educator and my youngest is an animal nutrition researcher, who actually has studied stuff like cow farts and burps (very technical, plus she knows exactly where to tickle a cow to make her/him pee, and can collect it in a bucket. I'm super glad I sent her to college to learn that....). Farmers are a thrifty lot, and we have always been doing most of this stuff, though Amazon has brought shopping to the sticks. I need to check my habit in that regard and resent/appreciate the reminder. It's all just common sense anyway, and also makes for a more satisfying life in general. Also? My girls have informed me that they will not be bringing any little people into this messed-up world, a decision I frankly can't fault, so I have those climate-denying asshats to thank for the fact that I am now going to apparently never be a grandmother, which is really the only reason I had kids in the first place. (Mostly joking.) Anyway, thanks for the post. I am extra-sticking around now.
Nancy
Don't worry too much about the grandkids. I thought I wouldn't have kids either till I hit 30 and biology kicked in! Never underestimate the drive to reproduce. It may catch up to your girls too. :)