The amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a particular individual, organization, or community.
Every single one of us has a carbon footprint, which means we each have a responsibility to reduce carbon emissions.
- Reduce the amount of plastic packets we use
- Reduce the amount of product we buy that has non-recyclable packaging
- Reduce our food waste, by buying only what we need
- Reduce our carbon emissions by keeping food from landfill
The average carbon footprint for a person in the United States is 16 tons, one of the highest rates in the world. Globally, the average is closer to 4 tons.
Each time we switch on the television or turn on the stove, we are causing carbon emissions. That’s because over 90% of our electricity in South Africa is generated from burning coal. Fossil fuels are one of the largest contributors to harmful carbon emissions. Food waste is also a massive contributor. While it is hard to live without electricity, we can look at ways of:
- reducing our power consumption
- investing in alternative energy sources like solar
- managing our food waste