Carbon footprint

Every living thing depends on the ocean. Covering more than 70% of our planet’s surface, it contains an astounding diversity of life and affects everything from global weather patterns to food systems. So when we hear the ocean is in trouble from the effects of overfishing, climate change, and pollution it’s easy to feel powerless. While many of these issues will require leadership from governments and businesses, there are plenty of actions you can take that will make a big difference for the ocean. There’s a good reason why flights take the brunt of environmentalists’ ire. They can account for a huge proportion of your annual carbon footprint – particularly if you’re a habitual or long-haul flyer. Research from The Guardian has found that one long-haul flight can produce more carbon emissions than the average citizen produces in a year in a number of countries. For example, a long-haul return flight from London to New York produces around 986kg of CO2 per passenger, more than the annual carbon emissions of citizens in 56 countries, including Burundi and Paraguay.

How much carbon would taking a train instead of flying really save? EcoPassenger provides a comprehensive guide to different modes of transport and their various carbon impacts. For example, from London to Budapest, the train journey – albeit taking a gruelling 21 hours – produces the least carbon emissions, at 55.9kg of CO2. This is exceeded by both car (181.2kg) and plane (225.3kg). Train expert The Man in Seat 61, has calculated the carbon reductions involved in taking trains over planes for popular routes across the world. He found that travelling from London to Paris by Eurostar instead of plane results in slicing carbon emissions by 91 per cent. Consider booking your next trip through a responsible travel company that’s committed to protecting wildlife, empowering local communities, and using guides who are aware of rules and best practices. Once you arrive at your destination, be respectful of marine life and habitats, such as nesting sea turtles on beaches and sensitive coral reef systems. And be discerning about your purchases. Purchasing certain items, such as coral jewelry, shark products, or tortoiseshell accessories (made from endangered hawksbill turtles) damages fragile ecosystems and threatens critically endangered species. If you are alive and breathing in the UK today, then someone at some time will have urged you to go vegan. Veganism has come full circle from its hippy, cold mushy lentil roots: transiting from target of merciless internet mockery to aspirational Instagram aesthetic, to its final resting place in the quasi-mainstream today. But while the vegan diet still represents the pinnacle of piety (in food terms anyway), there are increasing murmurs about another, more achievable eating pattern – the hiss of ‘flexitarianism’.

One thing is for certain, we have to reduce our red meat intake. The Lancet medical journal published a study that called on Europeans to reduce their red meat consumption by 77 per cent in order to avoid “catastrophic damage to the planet”. Good news then that the number of vegans in the UK quadrupled between 2014 and 2018 to 600,000, with another seven per cent of the population aiming to become vegan this year.

What would happen if the whole world went vegan? A study from Oxford University estimated there would be a 49 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from food production if we all followed our vegan friend’s advice. On an individual basis, research showed that a vegan’s diet is the most carbon light (creating 6.4 pounds CO2 per day), while a diet heavy in meat is also the heaviest in carbon (15.8 pounds CO2-eq per day). While different estimates vary, it’s generally agreed that you could cut your carbon footprint by around 20 per cent by switching to a vegan diet. If you do have to fly, make sure to pick economy class, because the carbon burden is shared among more passengers. Flying first class is associated with carbon emissions nine times more than economy. However, while train over bus may generally hold true, it can depend on where you’re travelling. The National Geographic tracked how much carbon would be expelled by different methods of transport between Toronto and New York and the results are somewhat surprising. An hour and a half plane journey is the least energy efficient mode, but the train forfeited first place to the humble Greyhound bus. This is because the Amtrak train releases a high volume of diesel fuel emissions. In Europe and other places, trains are more environmentally friendly. For example, the Eurostar is one of the cleanest ways to travel, producing just 0.015kg CO2 per km per passenger.

Boats are another mode of transport where counterintuitive logic can seep in. While boats might generally be considered fairly environmentally friendly, this isn’t always the case. In fact, a study found that a certain type of boat, the Large RoPax passenger ferry, was actually more polluting than taking a first class flight (0.39kg of CO2 per Km per person compared to 0.32kg CO2 per km per person). However, a different type of foot passenger ferry releases much lower levels, about 0.18kg of CO2 per km, and is ranked as one of the cleanest ways to travel. Overfishing is the greatest threat our ocean faces, and global fish populations are rapidly decreasing due to high demand and unsustainable fishing practices. Help keep fisheries and fish stocks healthy by choosing sustainable seafood when you grocery shop or dine out. What's the easiest way to make sure your seafood is sustainable? Look for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) labels. Their blue and green fish logos on your seafood ensures your fish can be traced back to sustainably-managed fisheries and farms. Make sure heat drains like gusty lofts and window frames are fully stoppered up. Beyond this you can make additional efforts to draught proof your house – by blocking the edges of doors and windows for example. Replacing an inefficient gas boiler can yield important energy gains, and another tip is replacing halogen bulbs with more energy efficient LED bulbs. Solar panel installations fell by 94 per cent in the UK this year as the government withdrew the offer of subsidies. But are there any other home improvements you can make to reduce your house’s carbon footprint? Most important is making sure your home is well insulated. Trapping heat effectively is the best way to trim down your energy usage – the biggest producer of carbon emissions in the home.