Do you know your carbon footprint?

Since declaring a climate and ecological emergency it is now as important as ever for staff and students to help us reduce our carbon footprint.

What are carbon emissions?

Energy is used in everyday activity from food you eat to how you travel. Most of which is derived from burning fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide makes up most of these gases, but others including methane and nitrous oxide are emitted and are just as harmful. Greenhouse gases absorb energy and trap heat in the atmosphere and this is what is causing increases in average global temperatures and changing our climate.

What can you do to help?

Everything you do adds to your carbon footprint. The size of your footprint will depend on a variety of factors; the size of your home; the type of vehicle you use, how often you fly, what you eat and the products you buy.

By understanding what contributes to your carbon footprint you can take steps to reduce it. You can estimate your footprint on the World Wildlife Fund’s carbon footprint calculator.

You can complete our Carbon Literacy module Moodle.

Our top tips to reduce your carbon footprint

• Consider the way you travel and the effect it has on the planet
• Think about changing your diet and eating less meat
• Insulate your home and wear more layers indoors rather than putting the heating on. You can also cover up draughts from windows and doors
• Reduce the mileage you do in your car
• Buy your fruit and vegetables locally to reduce your food miles

Ways to broaden your knowledge about sustainability

Books

• How bad are bananas? The Carbon Footprint of Everything by Mike Berners – Lee
• Net Zero: How We Stop Causing Climate Change Book by Dieter Helm
• The Human Age: The World Shaped by Us by Diane Ackerman
• Worldchanging : a user's guide for the 21st century / edited by Alex Steffen, with Carissa Bluestone ; introduction by Bill McKibben

Films

• Our Planet - Netflix
• I am Greta - BBC iPlayer
• My Octopus Teacher - Netflix
• Chasing Coral - Netflix