How Your Carbon Footprints Affect Us

What is a Carbon Footprint?

Carbon footprints are the amounts of greenhouse gas emissions produced by people and companies. Greenhouse gas refers to carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide that is damaging to the ozone layer consequentially causing erratic climate change. There are two kinds of carbon foot printing; primary and secondary. Primary carbon footprints are the carbon offsets that are made when the 'raw materials', which are general necessities, are produced. Secondary carbon foot prints are the carbon emissions that are produced indirectly during the entire life cycle of a product. There are various examples of secondary carbon foot prints such as packaging and transport as well as the amount f time it takes for the item to break down once the item has been finished.

Why should be be concerned with the size of our Carbon Footprint?

It is important to understand that carbon footprints are causes enormous changes in the worldwide. Scientists have found that the climate change caused by carbon emissions imposes huge threats to physical and biological systems including animals, plants and humans. Recently, it has been seen that glaciers are melting which are causing dramatic increases in sea levels and decreasing land space which disallows for fresh produce to be grown in areas where produce was previously grown. Also, dramatic changes in rainfall have seen abundant and healthy land spaces become lifeless which stops people, animals and plants from using this space. On the other hand, it has also been evident that some countries are being bombarded with flooding. These floods are increasing the spread of disease while decreasing the amount of available land space that people need to grow food and live on. Many cynics will protest that climate change is supposed to happen and is just a result of the way the world is designed to work. Unfortunately, it has been proven that if humans were not present on earth, the dramatic changes would not be occurring.

What causes the largest carbon footprints?

When looking at carbon foot printing statistics, it was interesting to learn that there are a variety of every day activities and goods which contribute to the carbon footprint that a person makes. Transport, food, drinks, clothes, household appliances, personal goods and even leisure items all contribute to climate change at various degrees. It is obvious that we can't completely prevent our carbon emissions however, we are capable of making a few lifestyle choices so that our carbon footprints are reduced.

How we can make a difference

Most damaging instrument which causes a change in carbon footprints is vehicles. Both public and private transport vehicles including, cars, buses, trains, planes and boats make up a hug annual percentage of carbon emissions world wide. People are urged to walk or ride a bicycle instead of driving their vehicles short distances. When transport is necessary, public transport should be used where possible. Through using public transport, walking or riding regularly, carbon footprints can be reduced greatly.

One of the cases of unnecessary carbon emissions that really should be important to all consumers is food. Food is a basic necessity and without food, it would be impossible to receive the nutrients that are necessary on a daily basis. Research has shown that growing fresh produce causes 5% of a persons carbon footprint each year however, when this fresh produce has to be transported large distances, the amount of carbon footprint changes to 28%. Obviously, it is more beneficial to the environment if a person purchases fresh food and produce that is grown locally. To further support eating freshly grown produce, it should be known that it has been found that soil which is seasonally harvested is healthier soil that will more easily grow produce. If the environment is not a good enough reason to purchase fresh produce, remember, fresh food (not frozen and imported foods) increases both the metabolism and overall health.

Overall, it has been seen that the main thing that can be done to reduce the size of your carbon foot print is to ensure that you are purchasing local products. Cutting out using the transport imposes huge environmental advantages and also, you will be helping local markets.

Buy local first where ever possible.

Purchase your foods from local Aussies farmers instead of imported can make huge carbon savings.
Obviously we support a person buying bananas from Queensland if they live in Melbourne.
Lettuce leave a large carbon footprint due to transport costs so why not grow your own?

It must get to a stage soon for people to realize the impact transport has on carbon footprint from food transport so now is the time to start growing your own veggies or fruit

In the future our backyard gardens will go back to growing fruits and veggies as our grand parents did.

Start now to control your carbon footprint with planting small veggie garden and find the enjoyment your family will have from home grown fruits n veggies.