GEF

Unit 3  |  Primary Sustainability Issues 82 GROWYOUR KNOWLEDGE It can be overwhelming to think about our ecological footprint, and even more so when we break it down by different areas such as energy, agriculture, and industry. How can we continue to make a direct impact to reduce our contribution to these various footprints? In this activity, you will explore footprint calculators by area of concern and identify specific opportunities for reducing your impact on the environment. 1. Visit the following two Websites to learn about two different types of footprint calculators. ■■ Carbon Footprint (Carbon Footprint Ltd.): www.carbonfootprint.com/ ■■ Water Footprint (Kemira): waterfootprint.org/en/ 2. Choose either the carbon or the water footprint calculator. If choosing the carbon footprint calculator, click on “Home Calculator” on the menu on the left side. If choosing the water footprint calculator, click on “Start Here” at the bottom right of the page. Both calculators are available in different languages. 3. Spend no more than 10-15 minutes exploring the Website to learn more about your personal footprint, as well as the method behind this ecological footprint calculator. You might try editing your footprint, exploring scenarios, or visiting the “Frequently Asked Questions” page. 4. Between this unit and the previous unit, you have had the opportunity to learn a lot about the way your personal behavior and choices impact the environment. Choose which action you can take to make a direct impact on your ecological (or carbon, or water) footprint. i. a. Buy clothes on sale b. Buy used clothes ii. a. Use paper bags at checkout b. Bring your own bags to the store iii. a. Take a city bus downtown b. Drive or ride in a car iv. a. Drink bottled spring water b. Use your own bottle of water filled from the tap v. a. Purchase fair trade tea from India b. Purchase tea from a local grower 5. How does a measurement tool like the ecological footprint help us to assess the sustainability of our lifestyle? What are the limitations of a tool like this? What actions can you take on a personal, professional, or community level to help reduce our ecological footprint? Write your answers and submit them to your teacher.