My Carbon Footprint:

So far in Fuel, I worked on two different action projects, one of them was propane and the other was wind energy. Now, the action project I'm working on is a script to take action about reducing my carbon emissions. In my script, I defined the meaning of pollution and explained my usage of food, transportation, and electricity, in addition other things. I learned the amount of carbon emissions I release into the atmosphere. I found out that I produce a lot of pollution, and it is harmful. I also learned many ways I can help the Earth remove carbon gas that I did not know before. What I am most proud of is identifying actions that reduce carbon. I am also proud of writing a tree equation, which helped me write my conclusion, because I learned that I can save a lot of trees by switching from taking a car to walking.
____________________________________________________________

Action Plan

Pollution is a substance that harms the Earth's environment and its inhabitants in many ways. Pollution is created mostly by human actions, through breathing, burning fossil fuels, and waste. It can also be the result of natural disasters, such as volcanic eruptions. Pollution can kill people because of the gases that are released ("Pollution").

I took a quiz to find out my carbon footprint. I release 26.5 tons (24 metric tons) of carbon into the atmosphere ("Footprint Calculator"). My carbon emissions are equal to the greenhouse gases given off by 5 passenger vehicles and the carbon dioxide given off by burning 2,695 gallons of gasoline (“Clean Energy: Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator"). The quiz asked me to provide details about my waste, transportation, type of housing, and food preferences. I produce a lot of waste, and this waste contributes to the pollution in the air when it decays.

I hope to reduce the amount of waste I produce through my actions, because the more waste I make, the more pollution is given off into the atmosphere. I pledge to...

• Reduce the amount of animal-products I eat by half. Livestock release methane into the air, which causes global warming. After taking this action, I will release 25 tons of CO2, reducing my carbon footprint by 1.5 tons.

• Purchase products that use less packaging or are made out of 100% post-consumer recycled content material. By doing so, I produce less waste, and waste decays, giving off CO2. Less waste/more recycling means less CO2! If I take this action, I will release 23.9 tons of CO2, reducing my carbon footprint by 2.6 tons.

• Travel less miles in a car per week. Cars burn fuel, which releases CO2. Less driving means I will release 21.6 tons of CO2, reducing my carbon footprint by 4.9 tons. (0.7 Planet Earths less)

J.R. The Switch of Transportation. 24 Feb. 2014. Drawing, Chicago. 

In order to remove 26.5 tons of carbon from the atmosphere, I would have to plant 616 trees, and here is the equation that I used to calculate this number:

24 metric tons of carbon dioxide x ( 1 tree / 0.039 metric tons) = 616 trees

In order to convert my carbon, I would have to know that every tree I plant removes 0.039 metric tons of carbon from the atmosphere ("Footprint Calculator").

Originally, it would take 4.8 Planet Earths to provide the resources needed to support my lifestyle if everyone lived like me. By following the three actions I mentioned above, I would reduce my carbon footprint by 1.5 planet Earths. I now emit 17.8 tons CO2 into the atmosphere. This means I have decreased my carbon footprint by 8.7 tons CO2. Originally, I had to plant 616 trees, but now, I only have to plant 414 = 202 trees saved ("Footprint Calculator")!

Works Cited

“Clean Energy: Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2014.

“Footprint Calculator.” Global Footprint Network. Sept. 2011. Web. 20 Feb. 2014.

“Google’s Carbon Offsets: Collaboration and Due Diligence.” Google, Inc. 2011. Pdf. 17 Feb. 2014.

“How Emissions Reduction Projects Work.” TerraPass. 2014. Web. 17 Feb. 2014.

"Pollution." - Simple English Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2014.