“Carbon footprint” is a climate change-related term we hear often, and it seems like something large, ambiguous, and out of our control. And what do carbon footprints have to do with our beloved birds? In this month’s Year of Helping Birds Challenge blog post, I’ll explain some very basic carbon footprint concepts and facts, and offer suggestions for individual actions.
You probably already know that a carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the production, use, and end-of-life of a product or service, And you know that greenhouse gas emissions trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere, causing the earth to warm, which results in climate change. Certain products or services create more greenhouse gases – and have a bigger carbon footprint – than others; for the average American, our carbon footprint mostly comes from fossil-fueled transportation (such as cars and air travel), housing (fossil fuels in heating and air conditioning), and food (mostly animal products, processed foods). You can calculate your individual carbon footprint with this tool from the Nature Conservancy.
Your individual carbon footprint is one of many millions of U.S. carbon footprints that are wearing down the earth’s ability to stay cool. How does this affect birds? As the earth’s temperature changes drastically in a relatively short period of time, bird habitats are damaged by changes to the weather, water, soil, plants, animals and insects that support birds. As an example, diseases such as West Nile Virus, which has already decimated populations of crows, will increase as droughts and warmer temperatures provide a longer window of ideal conditions for infected mosquitos. Other examples are related to increased drought and fires that are reducing already damaged habitat, and increased sea levels which damage water bird nests. Many bird species are being pushed into a precarious struggle to survive as their already low populations drop as a result of these changes to their habitat.
So carbon footprints matter a lot to birds - and reduced carbon footprints can help.
Individual vs. Corporate Action
There is an argument that individuals have little to no power to effectively reduce carbon emissions, based on the surprising fact that 100 companies - mainly fossil fuel extractors and their investors – are responsible for more than 70% of carbon emissions. In fact, the term “carbon footprint” was originally popularized in an ad campaign by British Petroleum (BP), one of the world’s largest fossil fuel producers, in an effort to shift the attention (and responsibility) of carbon emissions from the fossil fuel industry to individuals And many carbon-reducing options such as electric cars and solar power are usually more expensive and therefore not a practical choice for the majority of people.
The counter-argument is that individuals still have many options to reduce their carbon footprints and should make every effort to do so; the results may be smaller, but they are a step forward. And recently, the federal government has greatly improved the options for individuals to reduce their carbon emissions. The Inflation Reduction Act provides significant financial incentives for individuals to lower their carbon footprints, including rebates for electric and hybrid cars, and home energy rebates for solar panels and heat pumps.
Given the magnitude of carbon emissions affecting climate, it’s obvious that individual action alone can’t significantly reduce overall carbon emissions, and our highest priority is holding corporations and governments accountable for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and expanding our options on fossil fuels and other carbon emissions. We’ll cover this topic more in September when we emphasize the importance of voting for candidates and legislation that benefits conservation and birds.
Still, individual actions are powerful and can be contagious, and there are many ways you can reduce your individual carbon footprint and inspire others to do the same. Feel empowered by whatever actions you can take, not guilty about the things you can’t. Start with awareness, stay informed, and take small steps. Read through the facts and suggestions below, and choose the actions that are most attainable for you.
Transportation
Birders love to travel to see new birds, but the largest contributor to carbon emissions overall in the United States is transportation using fossil fuels, which accounts for nearly 30% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., with cars and trucks accounting for 80% of this total. Reducing your use of gas-powered cars will help reduce your individual footprint significantly. Here’s several options:
Walk or bike more, drive less; trying birding closer to home in local parks and forest preserves.
Use public transportation or car pool.
Replace a gas powered car with a hybrid or electric car - take advantage of the new rebates for new cars.
When driving a gas car, reduce your speed safely, and keep your car tuned up
Avoid long air transportation, or reduce the number of air travel trips you take. Here are some tips to reduce the impact of air travel you take.
The chart below compares the carbon emissions of various modes of transportation.
Values Based on DEFRA Emissions Standards.
What You Eat
The production of the food we eat - agriculture - contributes up to 30% of the average U.S. household’s greenhouse emissions. If you’ve reduced the amount of beef you consume, that’s a good start, because beef is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions by far. This includes the large number of trees cut down and replaced with grass for grazing (which releases carbon dioxide from forests), methane from cattle's digestive processes, and manure management.
The chart below demonstrates the dramatic difference in the carbon emissions of food products, from the United Nations report,
Much of our current data related to the impact of food on greenhouse gases is based based on a report by Joseph Poore and Thomas Nemecek who performed an in depth study on this topic in 2018, which is summarized in detail in FAQs on the Environmental Impacts of Food.
Changing your diet doesn’t have to be drastic; even incremental changes can make a difference. Reducing (or better, eliminating) beef, lamb and shellfish can cut your carbon footprint significantly, as this comparison of 5 diets shows.
Here’s a few simple ideas:
Reduce your consumption of beef, lamb and farmed crustaceans (mainly shrimp). Try meatless Mondays, or experiment with the new faux meats like Beyond Burgers. Here’s 5 tips on how to eat less meat.
Increase your consumption of plant-based products - Here’s some ideas from Bon Appetit’s The Healthiest Guide to Eating for the Planet, and delicious comfort vegan food at Nora Cooks.
Avoid waste - eat leftovers
Around the House
If you are a homeowner, you can minimize the energy footprint of your home in several ways. Here’s a few ideas:
Use energy efficient light bulbs
Replace drafty windows and older appliances with more energy efficient models
Reduce the use of air conditioning as your health and comfort allows
Use electric appliances instead of natural gas
Wash clothes in cold water, line dry clothes outside
Plant trees and shrubs around your home
Install solar panels and/or a heat pump
Additionally, check out energy-saving home-related rebates available from the recent federal Inflation and Reduction Act.
Recent Government Progress
On a federal level, President Biden has created the National Climate Task Force, with aggressive goals to reduce carbon emissions, and in late 2022 congress passed the Inflation and Reduction Act, and the Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Bill, both of which aim to tackle climate change and advance environmental justice. The Inflation and Reduction Act Bill provides individuals with significant incentives to reduce their personal carbon footprints.
In Illinois, it’s great to report that renewable energy sources for electricity have increased to 11%, almost triple the amount from a decade earlier. With the passing of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act in September 2021, Illinois plans to achieve a 100% zero-emissions power sector by 2045, with significant emissions reductions before that date.
Stay Informed
New information on climate change and carbon emissions changes daily. Stay informed and up to date with reliable news sources. Check out the links below, and DePaul University Library publishes a great guide Climate Change & Global Warming Research Guide: Useful Websites.
Learn More
What is Your Carbon Footprint? - Nature Conservancy
How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint - The New York Times
How Does Climate Change Impact Birds - American Bird Conservancy
How Climate Change Will Affect Illinois’s Birds - National Audubon Society
Can Individuals Solve Climate Change? - The Washington Post
The carbon footprint sham - Mashable
Carbon Footprint Fact Sheet - The University of Michigan Center for Sustainable Systems
How to Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Your Travels - Hike & Sail Blog
How to Eat Less Meat - 5 Tips That Actually Work - Eco & Byond
Nora Cooks - Delicious easy vegan comfort food blog
Food and Climate Change: Healthy Diets for a Healthier Planet - United Nations
Guide to Sustainable Seafood - Seafood Watch
Which Food is Better For the Planet? - Washington Post
Your Questions About Food and Climate Change Answered - The New York Times
100 Ways to Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
Climate Change & Global Warming Research Guide: Useful Websites - DePaul University Library
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