Calculating Our Carbon Footprint for the eTwinning Project "Ecodigital Explorers for Sustainability" (09/03/2026)

After calculating their ecological footprint using the Global Footprint Calculator, the 27 students in class 11B analyzed their impact on the environment in three major areas: food habits, energy consumption and living style, and mobility and transport. Unfortunately, the class results show that our lifestyles are largely unsustainable and require significant changes.

1. Food Habits

Food consumption represents a significant part of the carbon footprint. Diets that include large amounts of meat, processed food, and imported products increase greenhouse gas emissions because of intensive agriculture, transportation, and packaging. The average results suggest that about one third of the footprint is related to food consumption. This indicates that changing eating habits - such as reducing meat consumption, buying local products, and avoiding food waste - could considerably reduce our environmental impact.

2. Energy Consumption and Living Style

Energy use in homes is the largest contributor to the carbon footprint. Electricity, heating, air conditioning, and the production of consumer goods all require large amounts of energy, often generated from fossil fuels. The class synthesis shows that energy and lifestyle choices represent the biggest share of the footprint. Large houses, high electricity consumption, and frequent purchases of new products increase the ecological impact. Improving energy efficiency, reducing consumption, and using renewable energy sources would help lower this impact.

3. Mobility and Transport

Transportation is another important factor. The use of cars, airplanes, and long-distance travel significantly increases carbon emissions. The results indicate that mobility accounts for nearly one third of the footprint. Using public transportation, cycling, walking, or car-sharing could greatly reduce emissions related to transport.

Overall, the class results demonstrate that our current lifestyles and consumption patterns are unsustainable. If everyone lived like the average student in the class, we would need more than one planet to support our consumption.

To reduce our ecological footprint, it is important to:

1. adopt more sustainable food habits
2. reduce energy consumption at home
3. choose more environmentally friendly transport options

Small changes in daily behaviour can collectively make a significant difference in protecting the planet and ensuring a sustainable future. 🌍