Three is a Magic Number

Footprints offer clues about where we came from and where we're headed. Their impressions tell us something about the animals that leave them. But while actual footprints offer details on size, weight and speed, carbon footprints measure how much carbon dioxide (CO2) we produce just by going about our daily lives. A drive to work, a flip of a light switch and a plastic container in the trash, all rely on the combustion of fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas. When fossil fuels burn, they emit greenhouse gases like CO2 that have a direct influence on the environment; causing extreme weather changes, a global temperature increase, the loss of ecosystems and potentially hazardous health effects for people.

Our increasing carbon footprint is having a profound effect on our natural world. Sea levels are rising as the temperature of our planet increases. Rising seas will not only erode shorelines and destroy essential ecosystems but costal cites and towns could be displaced. Vegetation patterns are also shifting due to unstable weather patterns which are threatening the existence of multiple species of  wildlife. As climate change increases so does air pollution and water contamination. 

As Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers and outdoor enthusiasts, we believe we have a moral and social responsibility to do something about reducing our own carbon footprint and protecting the integrity of our earth which bore and sustains us. Reducing greenhouse gases is important in slowing down the growth of climate change. Besides stepping up the pressure on governments and big organizations to change their environmental policies and practice, we as individuals can take necessary actions needed on a personal level. We need to act now and not only practice Leave No Trace while in the out of doors but also in our everyday lifestyle at home and work. 

Every single action in our daily lives, no matter how big or small can help towards decreasing global warming and hence help preserve our planet for future generations.

So what can we do? Here are some easy personal changes to help reduce our carbon footprints:

Reduce

• Use less paper. Think before you print!
• Use reusable bags for grocery shopping.
• Use your own mug for coffee or tea. 
• Replace your light bulbs with energy efficient models. Only use lights as you need them.
• Plug electronics into power strips and turn off power strips when not in use.
• Lower your thermostat in the winter and reduce air conditioning in the summer.
• Support local farmer's markets and shops. Closer production means less food travel time. 
• Cut back on plastics. Plastic is made from petroleum and does not decompose. 
• Buy products with minimal packaging.
• Drive less. Try carpooling! Take a walk! Use public transportation whenever possible. 
• Don't buy things you don't need. Live simply!

Reuse

• Keep any plastic containers or bags for future use. 
• Use cloth towels instead of paper towels or napkins.
• Use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones.
• Carry your own utensil set to use when dining out. 
• Compost your kitchen and food waste. 
• Collect rain water for use in a garden.

Recycle

• Take EVERY opportunity you have to recycle all plastics, aluminum, and glass. 
• Use recycled products!
• Recycle clothes or give them to a charity shop.
• Recycle ink cartridges and electronics.  
• Share or reuse resources with others.

At Leave No Trace, we are passionate about actively choosing to protect the natural world and leaving our environments as good or better than we found them. We encourage you to make these small changes in your daily life because even a tiny alteration can produce global improvements. 

Ninjas for Nature - dani and roland