EMC has a tool that asks a long series of detailed questions regarding your use of email, photo uploads, social media and all kinds of activities resulting in a measurement of your digital footprint that goes way beyond what Google will show you. Although it’s a little dated, the post about online data trails is good too. Pawprint delivers: 1. Science-based data you can trust. Carbon-reducing tips and challenges that suit your personal lifestyle. Insight into how your carbon footprint compares to the rest of the UK.

• Measure Your Footprint&your Digital Footprint Calculator
• Measure Your Footprint&your Digital Footprint Printer
• Measure Your Footprint&your Digital Footprint Software

Activity Details

Time needed: 30 minutes

Materials needed:

• an adult with a computer or smartphone
• paper
• markers, crayons, or colored pencils

Setup: Do you know your carbon footprint? That’s the amount of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas caused by your daily activities, that gets released into the environment. Greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, are one of the main reasons that the climate is changing. The bigger the carbon footprint, the more greenhouse gases are being released into the atmosphere.

Activity: There are many carbon footprint calculators on the internet but you might try this simple one from Lehigh University or go deeper with calculators from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. A parent or another family member can help you fill in some of the information in order to find your carbon footprint.

Write down how much carbon you and your family are releasing. 

Did your carbon footprint surprise you? What are some ways you might reduce it?

Now, draw an outline of your foot on your paper. Put your foot or shoe down on the piece of paper and trace around it. Inside your foot drawing, draw pictures or write what you will do to make your footprint smaller. For example, you might draw a picture of you and your family members riding your bikes instead of driving in a car. 

Even small changes can help make the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere smaller. Now, imagine if everyone made small changes. What a big difference we all could make!

Measure Your Footprint&your Digital Footprint Calculator

Reflection: Now, let’s take some time to reflect on the activity and talk about how you can take action for climate change!

Measure Your Footprint&your Digital Footprint Printer

• What additional ways might help you reduce your carbon footprint? 
• How can you help others to reduce their carbon footprints as well? 

Talk about your drawing with friends or extended family and encourage them to make changes too! 

Measure Your Footprint&your Digital Footprint Software

Go even further! After a few months of actually making the changes you showed in your drawing, calculate your carbon footprint again. You’ll be able to see that it has become smaller. You are making a real difference. Thank you for taking action for climate change!