The health effects of climate change are sobering. They include lung and heart diseases, injuries and deaths related to extreme weather, food- and water-borne illnesses, and threats to mental health. The World Health Organization calls climate change “the single biggest health threat facing humanity.”
You may be thinking there’s not much you can do or that it’s up to fossil fuel producers, governments, and corporations to make changes. The truth is to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, experts emphasize that it’s going to take participation from all of us.
In this post we’ll show you visually just how much your efforts can add up over time. The bonus? Taking action is good for your mental health as it can reduce climate anxiety.
First, some basics
Carbon footprint refers to the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) generated by our actions. Greenhouse gasses trap heat in the atmosphere, heating the planet.
To have the best chance of avoiding a 2℃ rise in global temperatures, the average global carbon footprint per year needs to drop to under 2 tons by 2050.
The average carbon footprint for a person in the United States is 16 tons, one of the highest rates in the world. That is equivalent to about 4 giant elephants.
Actions you can take
Trade in your gas vehicle
Eat less meat and dairy
Fly less
Drive less
Use less energy in your home
A note about the numbers
The numbers above are estimates; exact savings will vary depending on your individual circumstances and levels of current consumption. You can find many more ideas for reducing your impact in the carbon footprint calculator on Nature.org. Estimate your footprint first, and then play with the options in the Take Action tab.