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If you’ve ever been to the United States, especially in New York City – everything truly is bigger, but is it better?
From grocery stores to clothing outlets, shopping in the U.S. is nearly a part of the culture – with consumerism manifesting itself a key quality amongst many Americans, celebrating holidays such as Halloween and the Fourth of July which both create a substantial amount of carbon emissions in a short amount of time.
If you didn’t already know, the United States is the second highest emitting country in the world – right behind China. This means that if the world wants to reduce its overall carbon footprint, Americans will need to lead the way if we want to make a dent in our global goal.
In this article, we’ll explain what a carbon footprint is, why Americans tend to have a large carbon footprint, and how those residing in the United States can actively seek to reduce their ecological impact.
Remember, a carbon footprint refers to how many greenhouse gas emissions are emitted by an individual or group – and ultimately contributes to global warming.
Factors which may contribute to a carbon footprint include:
As of 2023, Stanford estimated that the world exceeded 40 billion tons of carbon dioxide – increasing our global emissions by 1.1% since 2022. Seeing as the United States has such a large population and lifestyle conducive to a larger carbon footprint, it is essential for Americans to understand the ecological impact of their current actions and adjust them accordingly. Although the U.S. was successful in reducing emissions in 2023, there is more that needs to be done if we want to fight climate change on a collective scale.
👉 Long story short, if Americans don’t make an effort to reduce their carbon footprint – the world will struggle to mitigate climate change as a whole.
The average American carbon footprint is estimated to be around 16 tons per year. However, it is important to note that the average American carbon footprint is bound to vary depending on the state – seeing as major factors such as diet and transportation differ vastly across the United States.
Some more data regarding the average American carbon footprint includes:
If you still need convincing that the average American carbon footprint is larger in comparison to other nations across the globe, here is some food for thought: the average carbon footprint created by a person in U.K. is 6 tonnes, a French person 9.2 tonnes, Japan 8.6 tonnes, and 10.5 tonnes in Germany. None of these countries even exceed ⅔ of the average American carbon footprint.
👉 Some nearby countries, such as Canada, also produce a similar average carbon footprint per person – but it can be surmised that the neighboring American culture contributes to countries who have started to emit more CO₂. This could demonstrate the influence of Americans on the rest of the world and their annual emissions.
Many of those who are not American or who have never visited the United States may struggle to understand how the average American can produce such a large carbon footprint, but when you take a look at the average day of an American – it begins to make more sense.
For example, as an American now living in Paris – I never drive nor do I own a car thanks to the public transportation system present in Île-de-France. However, when I used to live in the Washington D.C. metro area – I definitely drove or exceeded the average 40 miles each American drives everyday.
My excessive driving wasn’t out of choice, but circumstance – as there was simply no other way to get to my college campus every day and back on time.
Let’s break down some other elements of daily life in the United States which contribute to the excessive carbon footprint created by Americans: are they a rite of passage or a road to the ultimate disaster?
👉 Biden has made a genuine effort to help Americans reduce their carbon footprint, such as by offering incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and suggesting that climate change is a national emergency. However, the truth is – no amount of government action will alter a culture that has already been instilled amongst Americans for decades, and it may not be enough to curb the effects of the average American carbon footprint.
Americans can reduce their carbon footprint by trying to mitigate excessive consumption, avoiding the need to upgrade their smartphones after each new release, trying to reduce meat consumption, and switching to public transportation.
Here are some ideas of how you can reduce your carbon footprint as an American:
In addition to these tips, perhaps one of the most useful ideas for Americans to try and reduce their average American carbon footprint is to evade excess consumption patterns.
A great way to reduce your average American carbon footprint is to practice mindfulness when subjected to consumerism habits – such as going to the mall with friends and feeling peer pressured into buying something. We know it’s hard to not give into the 2 for 5 or 50% off deals in the clearance section, bombarded with yellow and red colors purposefully trying to psych you into buying more than you need – but remind yourself that’s all it is: a psychological tactic, and not a need.
👉 It is important for Americans to learn that although excessive consumption is a hallmark trade of the United States – it doesn’t mean it still works in today’s world with climate change on our backs.
Overall, it is important for Americans to understand the overall impact of their average American carbon footprint and actively seek to reduce it in whichever way possible – as the world can’t evade climate change as a whole without the help of Americans playing their part.
If reading this article about the average carbon footprint of an American and how to reduce it has made you interested in reducing your carbon emissions to further fight against climate change – Greenly can help you!
It can prove stressful to attempt to reduce the emissions your American company creates, but don’t worry – Greenly is here to help! Click here to book a demo and get personalized expertise on how you can start to reduce your own emissions and decrease your environmental impact.
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