We Earthlings: 3 Ways To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

What we eat, the food we waste, and how we travel all contribute to global warming. Although we can’t stop eating or traveling completely, we can make simple changes that will make a big difference to our impact on the environment. Here are three impactful steps to help you reduce your carbon footprint.

1. Eat your veggies

The meat in our diets accounts for more than half of our food’s carbon footprint. Reduce the amount of meat you eat to shrink the carbon footprint of your diet. Consider adopting a vegetarian or, even better, a vegan diet. If giving up meat isn’t an option for you, consider this easy strategy that still allows you to eat meat with less impact on the environment.

2. Reduce food waste

Each American wastes an average of about 400 pounds of food each year. Combat food waste by planning ahead and purchasing only what you need. Learn how to keep food fresh longer and easy ways to reuse leftovers. And compost your scraps and food that goes bad; leftover food in landfills creates methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.

3. Minimize driving

Reduce your carbon footprint by walking, biking, carpooling, or taking public transport instead of driving. If you must drive, follow some simple maintenance and driving tips that can help reduce the carbon impact of your gas-powered vehicle. And if you’re ready for a new car, consider purchasing an electric vehicle — particularly if your electricity comes from renewable energy sources.

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This poster was originally published on June 15, 2021.