Reduce your carbon footprint

A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment and in particular the emission of greenhouse gases that causes climate changes.

South Africa has one of the highest greenhouse gas emissions in Africa.  It is estimated that the average South African’s carbon footprint is around 9.3 tons of CO2 per annum.  That means it you wanted to “fix” your carbon footprint you would have to preserve about 70 hectares of forest – that is the size of 70 rugby fields.

We need to bring global emissions down low enough to match nature's ability to absorb them, which may be as low as 10 to 20 % of today's global emissions.

It is possible to cut individual emissions by around 75% without seriously altering our lifestyles.  Want to know what your carbon footprint is?  Here’s how to measure it. 

How to reduce your carbon footprint?

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  The age old saying of prevention is better than cure stands, start reducing first, recycling should be a last resort. Hence the order of appearance in; reduce, reuse and recycle.  Here is how to reduce our carbon footprint:

At home

• Save electricity (use only what you need and switch off unwanted appliances)
• Get alternative sources of energy eg solar
• Save water.  Read more about water-wise bathroom.
• Start your own vegetable patch
• Insulate your home – it will keep your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

Traveling

• Fly less go by train or drive there
• Drive slower
• Start a lift club
• Do all your shopping in one trip
• Consider your next vehicle to be a scooter or motorbike
• Think twice before you buy your next vehicle.   A typical car takes between 3 and 5 tones of CO2 to manufacture. That is twice what it typically emits in a year. So even if the new model would be more fuel-efficient, it is probably better to put off buying it.
• Respect your ecosystem wherever it is you visit – be it the seaside, the mountains or a local community, respect your environment – don’t litter, don’t disrupt local life and buy local.

Food

• Eat less!  The biggest energy inputs (and hence carbon outputs) of our food come from growing and processing food, rather than transporting it.
• Buy organic and buy local products.
• Eat fruit and vegetables that are in-season.

Recycle

• Minimize your waste – recycle.  Find out more on how to minimize your waste.

 
Remember every bit helps!

You might think that your individual contribution does not make a difference, but multiply that by several million and we start making a difference!  So go on tell a friend!