After calculating the carbon footprint of my travel thus far in 2008, I (Chris) wondered how I stack up against others in my area. So I explored a few carbon footprint websites and was disappointed with what I found.
Compared to other Americans (who aren't role models in this area, as we all know) I personally score an F for carbon footprint.
An F.
I'm used to getting A's.
This is despite the fact that I carry a thin, green, biodegradable bag dripping with brown, smelly, sticky, nasty, gunk and filled with fly-infested, mold-covered cantaloupe peels ground into crumbling coffee detritus mixed with rotting cucumber stalks to a large plastic city-provided composting container every Wednesday as part of our recycling/garbage rituals; this is despite the fact that I don't drive to work but ride for nearly 2 hours every day on bus and train (for a total of over 20,000 miles per year); this is despite the fact that I live in a modest apartment in an old house in the most densely populated city in North America west of Chicago; this is despite the fact that I think of cars as a 20th century anachronism and managed to spend much of my 20s without owning a car at all; this is despite the fact that I ride my bike or walk when I can and even when I shouldn't; this is despite the fact that I declare carbon-free weekends where I unilaterally outlaw car usage for Olivia and myself. This is despite that I feel (felt?) like I was doing the right thing (even though I knew flying was kinda bad).
Of my 28 tons of carbon released per year (average American is 22 tons) fully 61% (18 tons) comes from flying. These 18 tons account for a slightly below average American's carbon footprint. I imagine this person living in a modest, two bedroom house, perhaps driving a Metro instead of a Jeep and eating steak once a week and not carrying stinky compost out to the street every week.
Or, even worse, my 18 tons accounts for a far-above-average European. How depressing.
That sure makes my elite status a lot less little less special.
Thanks United.
Sorry penguins.
[If you're curious (I was), 18 tons of carbon is roughly equivalent to about 550 average sized Emperor Penguins.]
...I think I'm finished with the serious stuff, our next post will be back to the fluff and Preciously Special Moments, I promise.
6 comments:
but you CARE...which speaks volumes, and you've taken measures to offset your flying footprint by drastically reducing it in other areas...
Maybe you shouldn't count work related stuff. If you only counted your pleasure travel, I'm sure you would be in a much better category.
my mom told me that the carbon usage of 1 person on a round trip flight to europe is equivalent to the average amount of energy used by 1 person to heat their house for a whole year. I assumed that my mom got her numbers all mixed up, but maybe she wasn't as far off as I thought.
BTW, I do not plan on finding out how many penguins I killed visiting Casey this past year. In fact, I don't really like to think that I killed the penguins, I prefer to think that the penguins sacrificed themselves for our love. They would do that, right?
Penguins are hopeless romantics, constantly throwing themselves off icebergs and whatnot at the slightest hint of trouble to their truw love. They make Romeo and Juliet look like level-headed planners. So don't worry Emily, those penguins were happy to support your travels.
I like to think that everytime Chris flies somewhere a field full of puppies and kitties is obliterated. This comparison has no basis in fact or reality, but I just like to think that.
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