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Change Your Footprint

It’s impossible to change your fingerprints, but you can change your footprint—your carbon footprint, that is!

Your carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) that is released to the atmosphere as a result of the energy used for your everyday activities. The food you eat, what you buy, and what you throw away all affect your carbon footprint. That’s because it takes energy to manufacture, package, and transport everything that you eat or use.

Why change your carbon footprint? Many scientists believe that the CO2 in our atmosphere is increasing as a result of human activities, including the burning of fossil fuels for energy. Extra CO2 traps heat in the atmosphere, causing the earth to become warmer.

Because all of the earth’s natural processes are tied to temperature, some scientists are concerned that the warming of the earth is changing its climates and harming its ecosystems. Reducing your carbon footprint can help reduce the CO2 in the atmosphere and keep the earth healthy.

You can reduce your carbon footprint by:

• Using energy wisely at home and at school.
• Using electricity from renewable energy sources that produce less CO2.
• Making daily choices that protect the environment.