Is your footprint above or below average? And do you care?

[Cam77]

Is your carbon footprint above or below the national average - and if it’s above do you feel bad about it? There are some good calculators online which quiz you on every aspect of you lifestyle. For what it’s worth I’m below average on most metrics - food consumption, energy usage (average sized home with good rating), don’t drive (work from home), only one kid, etc. However, I do fly a fair bit including one long haul every couple of years (12 hour return flight to visit family) - and that alone bumps me right back up to around the national average. I feel kind of bad about it, but there you go.

We're all going to die eventually - I'm doing my best to die happy.

I do about 150 business flights a year so fairly high.

It’s not going to be a happy death it is COPD is quite a painful existence, that’s the type of disease that will become far more prevalent- regardless of what your footprint.

We are vegan, run one small family car (and don’t use it on weekends - walk into town or train to London) and have given up leisure flying however I’ve flown long haul many times in the past and DH has had years where he’s had to fly for business anywhere up to twice a week. I also used to drive a 2l diesel 4x4 before I knew any better. If I plugged in my current behaviour it would be disingenuous but we are trying to mend our ways.

I'm 43 - I'll be dead before it becomes a big problem

www.who.int/westernpacific/health-topics/air-pollution

It’s not something that’ll be in the future, it’s happening now

I'd like to think we are below average. I don't have a dishwasher or tumble drier, only ever flown twice, I don't drive (although DH does for work ) I walk to work and kids to school. I use bars of soap, shampoo and conditioner, Recycle/reuse everything I can. I am having a 3rd child though so I know that's not great but we will be using cloth nappies and wipes and a lot of second hand stuff.

some interesting replies
my auntie had COPD, it's not great but there's a squillion other worse illnesses that we can't prevent now

I'm 43 and think environmental issues are already a huge problem but mostly I link that to overpopulation. I agree that commercialism is an issue, but while I'm not much of a consumer myself, I do understand why people want stuff and why they want takeaway delivered etc.

I’ve just done the WWF calculator and I’m over largely because of travel.

I rarely eat meat or buy new things but I do drive a lot as there is no train station where I live to get to work. I do car share though which wasn’t included in the quiz!

ivy yes, it's happening now

I have asthma and one thing bugs me because it's never mentioned - in London, they want to force everyone onto the Tube but the air quality is terrible! I'm more likely to have an attack on the Tube than walking or bussing!

www.gov.uk/government/news/public-health-england-publishes-air-pollution-evidence-review
Air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to health in the UK, with between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths a year attributed to long-term exposure. There is strong evidence that air pollution causes the development of coronary heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease and lung cancer, and exacerbates asthma.

Sorry forgot the second part of the question - yes I care. I don’t think it’s enough for individuals to care though I think governments need to do more and inequality needs addressing as part of that. I read a while ago that india needs to increase its carbon emissions for something like 20 years to lift its people out of poverty. There’s only so much a bit of recycling can do.

We all have to die of something

I got lower than average on wwf at 80%

I do eat meat and fish, though not really beef or chicken and no shellfish. I try to buy things that are produced locally where possible. I don't drive or take flights. Mainly I walk or use trains if going further afield though I don't have a job so no regular commute. My clothes are from charity shops and most of dd's are second hand, as is a lot of our furniture. I'm not planning on having more than one child though that's not really for environmental reasons, just my personal choice. I don't buy much in the way of technology. I do have a smart phone but I only get new ones when mine break so they last me for a good few years. I think my worst thing is probably heating. Have a fairly new and efficient boiler but I get cold easily and think I have it on more than the average person (I am guessing). Though I do make an effort by wearing lots of layers and think I've improved on this front. We have solar panels on our house.

I agree with others though, while I think we should all try and do our bit it's really a global problem and big global businesses are the ones who can help the most. I think if we all try and do our bit, and support companies which do make the effort when we can, then hopefully more of them will start to make changes

If individuals don’t care then you don’t have any processes of wanting change, as individuals won’t come together to try for a collective change

We all have to die of something

Well I'm sure the families of those who die from air pollution will find comfort in your kind words.

I agree with others though, while I think we should all try and do our bit it's really a global problem and big global businesses are the ones who can help the most. I think if we all try and do our bit, and support companies which do make the effort when we can, then hopefully more of them will start to make changes

Yes I agree, we all should do our bit but we need to pressure our governments and the companies we buy from to make the big changes because otherwise its like pissing in an ocean.

That quiz put me at 90%. I’m not giving up our 3/4 meat days. A majority (45%) of my waste is in household, so I’ll try to cut down our heating/electricity by turning our appliances off, as this is something we’re crap at. We already recycle, but not food and I refuse to recycle food. We have rabbits who eat most of our peels and some left over fruits and veg.

I have a petrol car but it’s not used for commuting, as we walk to school and work.

I don’t understand what the tv subscriptions have to do with the carbon footprint? We spend about £40 a month for WiFi, phone and nowtv and Netflix. Can someone explain why this adds to my footprint?

Below average, but WWF questionaire seems a bit odd, as 17% of my carbon footprint was linked to travel. I dont drive, use buses for under 3 hours a week and havent been on a plane for 27 years!

According to the quiz I’m high and it’s driven mostly by the fact that I flew to the states last year. Our New Years resolution is to begin carbon offsetting any flights so I’m going to stick with that!

I suspect the worst offenders are mega rich, greedy, power hungry types. And that if the world goes boom one day they'll be the survivers in their billionaire escape pods or whatever and when things eventually settle down they, or their descendants, will be back on track messing up the planet again, probably.

Or maybe it will be mars next

I came out as above average on the WWF calculator. I live in a small house, no kids, recycle everything, don't eat meat at every meal and commute by train.

So I'm calling bollocks on the quiz.

That wwf link is rubbish! I have higher than average, but it doesn't take into account HOW MUCH of each thing. 21% on travel, yes I have a car and use it for all journeys, live in a village with no bus or train, but I only put on 5k per year, and only take one flight to Europe every other year. Also 25% on stuff, but I just happen to have bought a new TV and phone this year, after having the previous ones for 10 years. Home is 35%.... because it is big I assume, and it says try using a renewable energy company, errrrr, I already do, and your already asked, these questions are just not nuanced enough.