How big is your Carbon Footprint?

In layman's terms, your carbon footprint refers to the amount of stuff or resources you use up e.g. if you have a car, your footprint is bigger than someone without (you use gas, oil etc. AND emit more fumes in the long run) Of course carbon footprints are calculated as a country average.

I thought I would do this post due to all the recent resurfacing of the global warming issue. Is the earth really getting warmer? Is it just a natural cycle? Is human activity really responsible? Time magasine had quite an interesting issue April 9th with a cover reading "The global warming survival guide" and included "51 things you can do to make a difference". The subsequent letters to the editor were varied: some complimentary, and others making you think about the writer "you just don't understand, do you?"

Wikipedia has a nice little entry about carbon footprints along with a world map which gives an overall view of the worst offending countries. Immediately you see North America highlighted. I was a bit surprised to see Australia right up there as well. Guess what? If you click to enlarge the map, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO is also guilty. In fact, according to this Trinidad is worse off than the U.S. However, this map shows carbon emissions per capita, not that that makes it any better but explains why the United States comes under fire from environmental activists. These statistics show the U.S. being way out ahead of other countries in terms of total carbon comsumption. The Kyoto Protocol was drafted in an effort to have governments worldwide take steps towards reducing levels of carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gases, emitted due to industrial activity. The U.S. has come under fire for not ratifying the protocol but admittedly it isn't as simple as it seems.

Part of the problem is that Americans are perceived to be a [lazy] people who go around using things up without regard to others or the effects of their actions. I always say stereotypes are born out of some grain of fact. Let's go back to those letters to the editor. One person said "...it is not a question of whether we will kill the planet. It is a matter of maintaining a survivable habitat for ourselves." OK so let's just do whatever we feel and if it comes to that we can build a bubble to live in? On the other hand another letter said "We can give up the feeling of entitlement that pervades our society, we feel entitled to use a disproportionate amount of the world's resources...As the greatest nation on earth, we should be leading by example." Some people see a true reflection in the mirror. I will put my own meaning on "greatest": for a country with such international political and economic influence the world community expects the U.S. to "do the right thing" and so far it seems that the policy is to get away with as much as possible until.

THe 51 things suggested by Time included many that we as individuals can do now while the government decides what to do later. I do subscribe to the view that every little helps. Here are a few: ride the bus or carpool - yes some transport systems aren't up to scratch, try carpooling; say no to plastic bags - why do american supermarkets put like 2 things in each bag? you leave with 10 bags carrying stuff that could have fit in 3; and the #51 on the list

"consume less, share more, live simply"

How big is your carbon footprint?