Footprint Calculator

Provided by: Global Footprint Network |Published on: June 17, 2021

Activity - Classroom

5-12

Scientist Reviewed ↗

Synopsis

This interactive tool from Global Footprint Network guides students through questions about their daily activities, household, travel/commuting habits, diet, waste, and living conditions to provide an estimate of their carbon emissions, a land use chart, an estimate of their ecological footprint, and their consumption of resources by category.
Students can see which climate solutions may be the most impactful for individuals and societies as they gain insight into actions they can take and actions that will need systemic change.

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Subjects: Social Studies, Earth and Space Sciences

Authors: Global Footprint Network

Region: Global

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

This resource provides insight into the many activities and choices we make each day that require energy, space, and resources.

Prerequisites

It would be beneficial for students to have a basic understanding of what an eco-footprint or carbon footprint is and know how to read a bar graph or pie chart.
Students will see their results in a pie chart, bar graph, in the number of Earths it would take to support our global population if everyone lived like them, and their personal "overshoot" day.
After using the tool, encourage students to make sustainable choices without making them feel guilty for things out of their control.

Differentiation & Implementation

Students can take the quiz over and over to see the impacts of different choices.
Other footprint calculators include the Foodprint Calculator by Harvard University, Calculate Your Carbon Footprint by the Nature Conservancy, and Carbon Check by Biointeractive.
To discuss the many solutions, feelings, societal changes, and need for international cooperation and prioritization, students can explore Project Drawdown's table of top climate solutions, their "Emergency Brake" solutions to quickly reduce greenhouse gas concentrations, this resource about climate finance and gender equality, or these videos about taking action and climate guilt.

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Scientist Reviewed

This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.

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Footprint Calculator

Synopsis

Teaching Materials

Scientist Reviewed

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