EVERYDAY CARBON FOOTPRINT

 

Learners will be able…
… to better understand how everyday choices and changes in lifestyle can impact the planet.
… to understand how everyday actions, especially in accumulation, relate to power and resource consumption, emissions, waste; and identify potential areas of improvement in their everyday choices in pollution reduction.
… to assess how change in food consumption could help save the environment on a societal level.
… to compare carbon footprint of various sources of food and search for alternatives to make informed choices in food consumption.

 

You need:

  • 40 minutes (in various sessions = 30 minutes + 10 minutes)
  • At least 2 people
  • Pen and paper/spread sheet
  • PC/smartphone/tablet and internet access

 

Instructions (Step-by-Step)

  • Ask the learners to write down all the meals they had in the previous day. Make sure they include snacks and beverages if they have had any.
  • Ask the learners to write down all the ingredients of all the meals. For each of them, ask them to analyse where it was produced, how it was produced, how it was transported, … try to guide them through the whole process of food production – for example from cultivation, plant management, crop production, harvesting, processing, storing, transportation, cleaning, sorting, packaging, trading, preparation, … Each of these processes requires its’ share of resources and energy – what changes can be introduced to help minimise waste, energy loss, reduce emissions, …?
  • Ask the students to use an online food carbon footprint calculator and try to gauge their footprint from the previous day. Compare and discuss the results within group. What changes could they implement to lower their number?
  • Challenge the students to keep a food footprint log for a week. Discuss the results in the group mid-through the challenge. Have them calculate the average and try to extrapolate from their data to the school/city/country food carbon footprint. What potential changes could help lower this number?
  • Repeat previous step after the whole week has passed. Discuss potential differences.
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