In Ms McCarthy’s CSPE class, 2A5 have been learning about how some of our lifestyle choices and day-to-day activities can emit excess carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The amount of greenhouse gases we produce is referred to as our “carbon footprint.” Too much carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in our atmosphere can cause unnatural climate change, which can have a harmful effect on our planet.

The class celebrated their own Carbon Footprint Day on the 25th of April. They took part in a carbon footprint survey to calculate the relative size of their impact on the environment. The survey asked a series of questions that directed the students to colour lines around the footprint drawing. The more greenhouse gases they produced, based on their answers, the bigger their carbon footprint grew. The four different colours represented the four different categories of behaviour surveyed, energy use, transportation, personal habits and recycling habits.

We can all reduce our carbon footprint by making some simple changes, such as eating more organic foods, improving our recycling and composting practices and using only the amount of water that we really need.