Carbon footprint facts and quiz for kids

The one question which is asked by everyone today is how to make this planet more livable and sustainable. Nature needs our help. Humans have prioritized the usage of non-renewable resources and have made the atmosphere extremely toxic and polluted. Earth is a unique planet where life is possible because of the balanced ratio of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but humans have caused toxicity by increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It is important to have some carbon dioxide, but when it is increased beyond the correct amount, it can be harmful. Children need to learn about these important facts and how to care for the world they are inheriting. This article has information about carbon footprints for kids.

Together, we can help nature to balance out the oxygen and carbon dioxide. To do that we have to start by understanding what causes the rise in carbon dioxide in our atmosphere on an individual as well as global scale.

The simplified carbon footprint definition for kids is: The amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere because of one’s own energy needs. This is called your “carbon footprint.”

Kids, your carbon footprint needs to be important to you!

Interesting Facts About Carbon Footprint For Kids.

Why Does Your Carbon Footprint Increase?

1. Food

Greenhouse Gasses from Average Food Consumption

Source: http://css.umich.edu

Pounds of CO2 per serving:

(4 oz. meat, 1/2 C asparagus 7 carrots, 8 oz. liquids)

Source: http://css.umich.edu

2. Electricity

While we use electricity in our homes for lights, kitchen appliances or other electronic devices we do not create carbon dioxide, but the power plants that generate the electricity emit carbon dioxide by using coal to create energy and these power plants create the most amount of carbon dioxide.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that largest carbon footprints are caused due to electricity.

3. Gas Heating

After electricity, gas heating releases the second highest amount of carbon dioxide. Most houses use oil, natural gas or electricity in winter to keep the house warm. All of these create carbon dioxide. The amount of carbon dioxide each family creates depends on how high power their appliance is and what kind of fuel is being used.

4. Transportation

Most cars run on petrol or diesel. Modern electric cars use energy as well because the electricity used to charge these cars also leaves a carbon footprint. Smart transportation choices should be made to reduce carbon footprint efficiency. One should try using public transportation or walking, or biking. But if you need to use a car, ask your parents to set up a carpool with your friends’ families. Apps like GoKid make it super easy to set up and manage the carpool schedule. Best of all: One carpool will take 2-3 cars off the road – and it’s often more fun to ride with your friends.

5. Agriculture

Most people are unaware of the fact that methane, which is a comparatively more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide is generated by agriculture. A large portion of this comes from agriculture and most of it from livestock. To optimize the yield livestock are given food products which boost their growth, but these food products do not digest well. It ferments in animal guts resulting in methane gas which later comes out.

6. Energy Production

Coal, oil, and gas are used to generate electricity. But these resources need to be mined or extracted and transported. Gas-consuming machinery is mainly used and natural gas escapes means a good amount of greenhouse gases produced that get wasted.

7. Industrial Sector

The industrial sector is the third largest source of human-made carbon dioxide emissions which produced 20% of fossil fuel related carbon dioxide emissions in 2010. The industrial sector consists of mining, construction, agriculture, and manufacturing. There are 5 main categories (food, paper, petroleum, chemical and metal/ mineral products) which are accountable for most fossil fuel use and carbon emissions.
Manufacture of goods and other industrial processes produce a large amount and various types of greenhouse gasses but mainly carbon dioxide. Most manufacturing facilities use fossil fuels which are required to create heat and steam needed for various purposes. For example, limestone is heated at 1450°C to make cement; to create so much heat, fossil fuels are required.

8. Land Use Changes

When the natural environment is converted for human usage such as agriculture, housing, etc it is called “land use change.” About 9% of human carbon dioxide emissions are caused by land use changes. These emissions have contributed to 3.3 billion tonnes of total carbon dioxide emissions in 2011. From 1850 to 2000 these land use changes have created approximately 396 to 690 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, or about 28%-40% of total anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions
One of the biggest reasons for this emission is deforestation and land use change because the permanent natural environment is removed for commercial uses and it has a large impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Large areas of forest lands have been cleared for timber, some forests are burned for farms and pastures. Clearing of forests releases a huge amount of greenhouse gases which results in increased carbon dioxide levels.

How Can Your Carbon Footprint Be Reduced?

1. At School

– Conserve paper by printing on both sides and only printing what is necessary will not only save paper but electricity as well
– Students should consider taking a bus, walking, biking, or scootering to school. If the car is the only option, carpool to school and ask your school to set up carpool programs like the GoKid school carpool program. Schools will be able to track CO2 savings and miles saved!

2. At Home

– Look into installing solar panels

-Replace gas-powered leaf blowers with electric leaf-blowers (or rake the leaves!)

– When light bulbs die, replace them with LED lights.
– Unplug unused appliances
– Use energy-efficient insulation

– Grow your own herbs and vegetables
– Cook more vegetables as meat, dairy and eggs have the highest impact on the environment.

3. While travelling

– Buy recycled, used and organic products as much as possible.
– Carry your own reusable bags.
– Try to avoid products with excess packaging material.
– Travel with reusable bottles.

There are a lot of fun carbon footprint activities for kids that can be tried to increase children’s knowledge and awareness about the environment. The sooner kids get to know about the harmful effects of their actions on nature and the better options they can choose, the better chance they will have to live in a healthy world.

A small carbon footprint quiz for kids relating to paragraphs above.

1. What is a "carbon footprint"?

a. Total amount of CO2 emitted by a machine
b. Total amount of CO2 emitted by an individual
c. Total amount of CO2 emitted by a company
d. All of the above

2. Do your eating habits affect your carbon footprint?

a. Yes
b. No

3. Which of these is not a source of increase in carbon footprint?

a. Energy production
b. Deforestation
c. Cycling
d. Sports cars

4. Which gas does the agricultural sector produce?

a. Methane
b. Hydrogen

5. Using electricity at home or school will increase your carbon footprint.

a. True
b. False

6. How can you reduce your carbon footprint caused by electricity usage?

a. By eating vegetables
b. By recycling
c. By saving electricity
d. All of the above

Here are two links to carbon footprint worksheets which you can use with your child:

We have to be assertive about our environment. Our next step should be learning how our planet works. On an individual level we need to learn to survive without making a mess. That way we can maintain for future generations. We discussed here ways to reduce the carbon footprint for kids, but there are things that older kids and adults can also do: you can start by growing your own vegetables, herbs and fruits, or you can plant trees, as these new plants will help remove carbon dioxide from the air.

Carbon footprint facts and quiz for kids

Kids, your carbon footprint needs to be important to you!

Interesting Facts About Carbon Footprint For Kids.

Why Does Your Carbon Footprint Increase?

1. Food

Greenhouse Gasses from Average Food Consumption

Pounds of CO2 per serving:

(4 oz. meat, 1/2 C asparagus 7 carrots, 8 oz. liquids)

2. Electricity

3. Gas Heating

4. Transportation

5. Agriculture

6. Energy Production

7. Industrial Sector

8. Land Use Changes

How Can Your Carbon Footprint Be Reduced?

1. At School

2. At Home

3. While travelling

A small carbon footprint quiz for kids relating to paragraphs above.

1. What is a "carbon footprint"?

2. Do your eating habits affect your carbon footprint?

3. Which of these is not a source of increase in carbon footprint?

4. Which gas does the agricultural sector produce?

5. Using electricity at home or school will increase your carbon footprint.

6. How can you reduce your carbon footprint caused by electricity usage?

Here are two links to carbon footprint worksheets which you can use with your child:

Are You a School or District Administrator Interested in Bringing Carpooling to Your School?

Quick Links

Important Links

Let’s Connect!