Your Carbon Footprint and how to Reduce it

 Hi readers! Happy New year! For our first post for 2025, we will be writing about how to reuce your carbon footprint, since we are learning about this in our ongoing Unit Of Inquiry. Enjoy!

What is a carbon footprint?A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) released into the atmosphere by a person, product, organization, or event. Some GHGs include carbon dioxide, water vapour and methane. The larger a carbon footprint is, the greater the strain on the environment. 

The carbon footprint of an individual can be affected by many factors in your daily life, including: Food consumption, clothing purchases, waste disposal, and more. 

Here are some ways to reduce your carbon footprint:

1. Reduce waste: Recycle materials, cut down on plastic, and reduce food waste.

2. Conserve water: Fix leaks, take shorter showers, and turn off the tap while brushing your teeth.

3. Use reusable cups, plates, utensils, bottles and containers.

4. Travel efficiently: Walk or bike instead of driving, and take fewer connecting flights. 

5. Reduce energy use: Turn off lights when you leave a room or your home, and replace old light bulbs with LEDs.

Some facts about your carbon footprint:

1. The average carbon footprint for a person in the United States is 16 tons, one of the highest rates in the world. Globally, the average carbon footprint is almost 4 tons.

2. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from human activities are now higher than at any point in our history. In fact, recent data reveals that global CO2 emissions were 182 times higher in 2022 than they were in 1850, around the time the Industrial Revolution was underway.

3. Food Production Accounts for 83% of Carbon Emissions Each Year.

Just a post to inform you...!

Hi guys! This isn't a big post, we just wanted to inform you that we won't be posting till January, since most of us are travelling for the winter break! Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy NewYear!

Overpopulation (and how we spread awareness in our school!)

 Hi readers! Today, we'll be teaching you about overpopulation and how it harms the environment. This topic also connects to our ongoing unit, Sharing the planet, where we are learning about finite resources. In this post, we are also going to talk about how we inspired younger children in our school and spread awareness too! Let's start with that:

We were invited by out third grade teacher, the people who played a big role to inspire us to write this blog. We actuallly started our blog in third grade! We prepared a presentation, and in groups of two. We taught 64 children altogether about how they can help with environmental difficulties. This was an amazing opportunity, and we thank out past teachers for choosing us to inspire the young minds of the future.

Now, onto overpopulation and how it harms the environment:

- Overpopulation leads to an increased demand for housing, food, and resources, which can lead, among other things, to deforestation.

- This can lead to soil erosion, water pollution, and other forms of damage that can have severe consequences.

- In connection to our unit, larger populations require more food, water, and energy, and consequently taxes the earth's ability to replace overused or misused resources.

- Overpopulation also depletes wildlufe to dangerously low levels

In summary, the fossils consumed, the resources depleted, the forests cleared, the heat produced, and the global warming caused are all repercussions of the fast-growing population.

Here are some images of when we were sharing about our blog:

How to celebrate Diwali sustainably!

 Hi readers! Sorry we haven't posted in a while, we were on our Diwali break. Speaking of Diwali, today we'll be telling you how to celebrate Diwali sustainably.

On Diwali days, PM2.5(stands for particulate matter 2.5, used to describe tiny particles in the air that are 2.5 micrometers levels) can surge up to 40% in Mumbai. So here's how you can do your bit by using this tips for an eco-friendly Diwali!

• Eco-friendly Diyas: Choose clay diyas over plastic ones, and use natural paints or decorate them with eco-friendly materials.
• Sustainable Gifts: Give gifts that are handmade, plant-based, or locally sourced, such as potted plants, organic sweets, or recycled products.
• Zero-Waste Festivities: Plan meals that minimize food waste, and compost leftovers instead of throwing them away.
• Community Clean-Up: Organize or participate in a community clean-up after the festivities to keep the environment clean.
• Energy-efficient Lighting: Use LED lights instead of traditional bulbs to reduce energy consumption.
• Eco-conscious Clothing: Wear traditional attire made from sustainable fabrics or consider thrift shopping for festive outfits.
• Promote Awareness: Share eco-friendly practices with friends and family to inspire others to celebrate sustainably.
• Natural Rangoli designs: Avoid the harmful effects of chemicals used in rangolicolours by using flower petals, rice and natural dyes, or spices.
• Say No to firecrackers: The best thing you can do for the environment this Diwali is to pledge not to burst firecrackers. Firecrackers pollute the air we breathe, raise noise levels, and can also lead to serious burns and loss of vision if not handled properly.

This Diwali, we must make mindful and sustainable that not only contribute to our fun, but also to the environments benefit. 

Mythbusters!

 Hi readers! Today, we'll be busting some crazy myths about the environment. Enjoy!

Myth 1 – CO2 emission can be eradicated completely

In today’s world, everything we use has a carbon footprint. Regardless of the products contributing directly or indirectly towards the carbon footprint, nothing can be done to fully eradicate carbon emissions completely. However, we can minimise it by using greener means of transport, walking to short distances, spreading awareness about climate change, and much more. 

Myth 2 – Climate change is a natural process and has nothing to do with people.

Climate change is a natural process, but lately, humans have been pushing it onto overdrive, by littering, burning fossil fuels, and cutting down trees!

Myth 3 – Climate change has always happened, so we shouldn't worry about it.

It is true that the planet’s temperature has long fluctuated, with periods of warming and cooling. But since the last ice age 10,000 years ago, the climate has been relatively stable, which scientists say has been crucial to the development of human civilization. That stability is now faltering. The Earth is heating up at its fastest rate in at least 2,000 years and is about 1.2 C hotter than it was in pre-industrial times. The last 10 years have been the warmest on record!

Here is an image on how climate change impacts us:

To conclude this post, the issue is not saving the planet, but rather protecting the planet’s existing ecological systems so that humans can prosper on a healthy planet. And seen in this light, defending the environment is never an all or nothing proposition — every acre of land protected, every stream cleaned up, every toxin reduced, all of it matters.

Credits: unep.com(united nations environmental program), EKI Energy services limited,  

The Impact of Landforms on Wildlife

Hi readers! Today, we'll be writing about the inpact of landforms on wildlife! Read on to know more!

Habitat loss, climate change, and a lack of biodiversity can all make ecosystems unhealthy, putting wildlife at greater risk for disease. Pollution. Every day the byproducts of our daily lives make their way via the air and water into the natural environment and become pollutants. By understanding the distribution of endangered and threatened species, conservation geographers can support targeted conservation efforts. They assist in designing conservation strategies, such as habitat restoration or captive breeding programs, to safeguard these imperiled species.

There is a serious threat to biodiversity from climate change. Conservation geographers are essential in helping identify areas that are most vulnerable to climate change impacts and in developing strategies to assist species in adapting to changing conditions (Hoang et al., 2021). This may involve establishing wildlife corridors or protected areas that can serve as refuges for species affected.

Therefore, we need to protect our planet and wildlife, like Earth has sheltered us for centuries. We need to consider the fact that we are not the only living beings on this planet, and we need to respect all others, as they are equally important to our planet's balance.

Here is an image you help you understand this issue better:

Note: We really appreciate your support throughout our journey of 50 posts, and we are amazed we could come this far. We would also request you to try writing your feedback in the comments!

DIY Sunday!

Hi readers! Today, we'll be doing a DIY Sunday, something we haven't done in a while, to celebrate our 50th post! We'll be writing about how to make a pressed flower bookmark!

Materials required:

-Various leaves or flowers

-Cardstock

-Scissors

-Glue, yarn, string, or ribbon

Steps:

1) Place the flowers and leaves inside a thick book for 3-4 days.

2) Cut a cardstock as per the size you want your bookmark to be.

3) Use your pressed flowers/leaves to make a design on cardstock.

4) Glue the flowers and leaves to your bookmark.

5) Cover the bookmark with clear contact paper.

6) Punch a hole through the top of the bookmark and tie a ribbon.

7) Enjoy using your eco-friendly bookmark!

Here's what it should look like:

Credits: We got all of this information from this link-https://www.firstcry.com/intelli/articles/7-environment-friendly-craft-activities-for-kids/