Aims

Aim
• I can describe the effect that human activity has on the Earth.
• I can define carbon footprint and understand how our activities affect it.
• I can suggest ways we can reduce our carbon footprint and help protect the
environment.
What Is Your Carbon Footprint?
Many of your daily activities require energy.
Just think about your morning routine − what is it?

I like toast for breakfast with a glass of

fresh orange juice.
Then, my mum drives me to school.

My alarm clock rings at 7 a.m. I get

up and take a shower, then brush my
teeth. I have a new electric
toothbrush!
What Is Your Carbon Footprint?
Even these simple things we take for granted require energy. Can you think how?

Toast - made with an Alarm clock - uses

electric toaster batteries

Orange juice - made with Shower - gas or

oranges grown abroad and electricity is used to heat
transported around the the water
world
Electric toothbrush -
Car - runs on petrol uses electricity to charge
(a fossil fuel) up

Fossil fuels include coal, oil and natural gas. These all formed deep within the Earth
millions of years ago. They are burnt to create energy and electricity. Fossil fuels are
a non-renewable energy resource. This means that they will one day run out because
they can’t be replaced quickly enough.
What Is Your Carbon Footprint?
Producing the energy needed for these simple routines releases a gas called carbon
dioxide. This is known as a ‘greenhouse’ gas because it traps heat, causing the
Earth to warm up. The more carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, the
worse it is for the environment.
What Is Your Carbon Footprint?
The amount of carbon dioxide produced as a result of your daily activities is
known as your carbon footprint.

Everything we do has an impact on the

environment.

If we made small changes to our daily

routine, we could reduce our carbon
footprint and have a positive effect on the
environment.

What small changes

could you make?
Take public transport!
If more people use buses and
trains, the amount of fuel used
is shared between more Go for a walk!
passengers so each person’s You will feel better for
carbon footprint is reduced! the fresh air and get
some exercise at
Travel the same time.

Can you be an
active traveller?
Do you really need
How would each of these to drive?
Does your school have
suggestions reduce your If the answer is yes,
bike or scooter racks?
If so, use your own energy carbon footprint? ask your parents if you can try
to get to school and reduce car sharing. That way, you can
your carbon footprint! reduce the amount of carbon
dioxide per person as there are
more people in only one car.
Electric cars are also becoming
more popular as they reduce fuel
emissions.
Unplug! Save water!
Leaving devices on standby Try to reduce your daily water
continues to use electricity. If consumption. You can turn off
you don’t need it, switch it off running taps when not in use, take
or ask an adult quick showers and only
to unplug it! fill the kettle with
the amount you
Home need each time.
Energy-saving
lightbulbs!
Can you be energy efficient
Switch off!
Invest in at home?
Switch off lights when
energy-saving How could you you leave a room
lightbulbs around your house. change your habits − a simple way
They last 15 times longer and to reduce your to waste
use 80% less energy than other carbon footprint? less electricity.
lightbulbs.
That’s saving
money as well Cool water washing!
as energy! Talk to the adults in your home and
discuss lowering the temperature
setting on your dishwasher or washing machine. About
90% of the energy needed goes towards heating the water.
Ready, steady, cook! Bag for life!
Cooking meals from scratch means less energy You are charged for any new plastic carrier
is used to produce packaging. You can also bags you use in shops − why do you think
research different ways to reduce your this is? Remember
footprint through to use a ‘bag for life’.
what you eat, as some This way, you can reuse
intensive farming processes the bag again and
produce high levels of again, reducing waste
greenhouse gas emissions.
Do you enjoy cooking? Food and improving your
carbon footprint.
What would be your
favourite meal? Even the food you
Grow your own!
eat can affect your Try growing your
Eat seasonally! carbon footprint. own food. All you
By eating food that
need is a plant pot,
is in season, less fuel
some soil, some seeds and a
is used to transport food
sunny spot. Strawberries are easy
from abroad and refrigerate it to
to grow in summer. What else
keep it fresh.
Eat local! could you try?
Do you know where your food comes from? Can you buy food that
was grown or made locally? That way, there would be less energy
used to transport your food from other places.
 Reuse!
Reduce!
Before throwing something away,
Reduce the rubbish you create.
consider if it can be reused. Plastic
Do you need all that
bags, paper, cardboard
packaging? Can you use that paper
and even clothes
again? Reducing your waste means
can all be reused.
saving money
You could organise
too. Can you think why? Reduce, a uniform ‘Swap Shop’
Reuse, Recycle at school. You could
arrange a junk modelling competition
If you produce less waste, you with
can reduce your carbon your friends.
footprint. You can do this at
home and at school,
encouraging people to reduce, Recycle!
Compost! reuse If you can’t reuse it, recycle it.
Even food scraps can be and recycle. Sort your
recycled. Compost them waste to see what
instead of throwing away. can be recycled.
You could create a wormery Recycling materials
to see how food waste is uses less energy than creating
broken down. them.
Get gardening!
Get out into the garden and plant! Not only
will your environment look
better, you’ll be getting exercise
and feeling better too. You don’t
need lots of space − just a
plant pot and some
compost should get
you started.
Green Fingers
Everyone needs to use energy,
which means everyone will have a
carbon footprint.
A simple act of planting a
tree can help offset
your carbon
footprint.

Plant a tree!
Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
Planting a tree will help restore the balance of gases in the
atmosphere.
 Now you understand a little more about your
carbon footprint, you can start making small
changes that could add up with other people’s to
make a big difference to our world.

Our planet is a special

place! Let’s do our best
to take care of it!