Does my individual carbon footprint matter?
A home in Quetta, Pakistan, destroyed by flooding
The Philippines was hit by Super Typhoon Noru at the end of September with maximum wind speeds of 125 mph. Nearly 200,000 families were affected and it is estimated that 23,000 remain displaced. The Philippines is ravaged by storms and is judged to be one of the most vulnerable nations to the climate crisis. Torrential monsoon rains have caused devastating flooding in Pakistan. 3.4 million children alone require assistance according to UNICEF. They are at risk from waterborne diseases, drowning and malnutrition. In Northeast Brazil, the city of Recife was on red alert due to the predicted high rainfall. In the space of 24 hours, it received 10 cm of precipitation, resulting in flooding and mudslides. It was a similar story across the rest of the Pernambuco state and Alagoas state with thousands left homeless.
We could also mention wildfires across the United States of America and Australia, further flooding in Canada and many, many other catastrophic events both reported and unreported. Weather is becoming less predictable and more extreme. Surely there must be fewer and fewer doubters of a climate crisis. Climate change should matter deeply to people who care about other people.
But what can we do? For several decades we have heard the call for us to change our lifestyles (particularly in the polluting rich West) to a more environmentally clean one. However, understandably, we may wonder whether anything we do individually can really make a difference on a global scale - for that is the level of change needed. What does it matter if I walk to work instead of driving, if China, USA, India, Russia and Japan (the top five worst offenders in terms of total greenhouse gas emissions) do little to change their industrial-level behaviour?
An average individual has little control over the main ways in which greenhouse gases are produced at a global level. Six main sectors produce these gases: electricity production (25%), food, agriculture and land-use (25%), industry* (20%), transportation (15%), heating of buildings (5%) and export, transport and processing of fossil fuels (10%). It is hard to understand how the normal man and woman can affect these statistics. The vast majority of us are not world leaders or captains of industry. Thus, the major sources of GHGs seem to lie outside our control.
A plant based diet can contribute to a lower carbon footprint
The second problem for the individual is that even if we make all the possible changes to our own lifestyle (i.e. greener living), it will only make a miniscule difference. Let’s compare the carbon outputs on a global level to outputs on an individual level. For example, in the USA, the average person produces about 16 tonnes of carbon emissions, with those on lower incomes emitting less and the rich emitting much more. This is one of the larger average national carbon footprints+.
There are various methods of calculating the impact of different green actions but, generally, the same key actions make the top of the list of being most effective: have fewer children (obviously a controversial one), drive less, fly less, make your home more energy efficient and switch to a plant-based diet.
Even if we follow all five of these actions, it will have little impact. Thinking of the average American’s 16 tonnes (that’s without green living), that only comprises a tiny proportion of the overall global carbon footprint which stands at 50 billion tonnes. So the average American is just 0.0000000003% of the total problem. Very small. Therefore, even if we reduce our own individual carbon footprint as best we can, the effect will be insignificant.
This is, perhaps, not what you wanted to hear. Am I saying that we shouldn’t bother trying to reduce our own carbon footprint and just leave the rich and powerful to do what they want with our planet?
NO!
Here are the two things we all need to do:
Reduce our individual carbon footprint in all the ways we can BUT influence others to do the same; family, friends, work colleagues. That will increase the impact significantly. We need to bring others with us.
We can actually influence world leaders and captains of industry by voting in elections and shareholder meetings and also engaging with lobbying and campaigning through active and peaceable organisations.
Both of these actions are about becoming part of a wider movement, joining with others to influence others. Those around us, we are asking to follow our model of living with a reduced carbon footprint. The policymakers, we are pressuring to change those policies and follow through with bold and immediate action.
Here are some links where you can find places to learn and take action:
Listen to the podcast ‘ologies’, episode on 24th August 2021: Is your Carbon Footprint BS?
Learn how you can reduce your carbon footprint - Future Learn
Sign and get others to sign the Loss and Damage Petition to pressure the governments with high carbon emissions to compensate those who are suffering as a result of the climate crisis that the rich have largely created
In short, we do matter but we will matter most when we change the minds and behaviour of others.
* The cement industry accounts for 8% of all greenhouse gas emissions
+ The global national average per capita is 4.8 tonnes
Some of the ideas and statistics from the above ‘ologies’ podcast have been incorporated in this blog.
NB Although “carbon” and “greenhouse gases” may seem interchangeable in this article, for clarification:
Carbon footprint. A measure of the total amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere as a result of an individual’s, organisation’s, or nation’s actions. It’s usually measured in tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent).
Greenhouse gasses (GHG). Any type of gas in the atmosphere that blocks heat from escaping. In relation to your carbon footprint and climate change, the main ones to mention are carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane.
[Extract from Future Learn- How to reduce your carbon footprint – 20 top tips]