In this article, we'll explain what an ecological footprint is, how it can be calculated, and the best ways to mitigate a poor ecological footprint.

Your Ecological Footprint: How to Calculate It & Why It Matters

It's true that most of our every day actions have an impact on the environment, and that one way or another – we all contribute to a global ecological footprint.

An "ecological footprint", refers to one's true ecological self-awareness – as many of our lifestyle and daily activities are far from being harmless for the planet. 

The proof is in the pudding, as Earth overshoot day advances a little more each year. For example, on July 29, humanity consumed all the resources that the Earth is able to regenerate in one year as a result of the pressure that mankind exerts on the environment – such as with our increase in industrialization habits and excess consumerism. 

An ecological footprint refers to the ecological resources consumed by an individual person or community and how their carbon footprint, carbon dioxide production, and overall ecological footprint calculations have an impact on their surrounding environment. 

💡 According to the Global Footprint Network, we are all able to grasp the ecological footprint concept by seeking to understand our impact on the environment, by measuring the amount of global hectares of biologically productive land needed to ensure our current resource consumption.

The main goal of the Global Footprint Network is to help share tips to help in measuring sustainability, boost sustainable development, and ensure the human population remains biologically productive in avoiding the use of fossil fuels, an ecological deficit, emitting excess greenhouse gas emissions, or exceeding our current ecological reserve.

Our human activities consume resources and produce waste. The ‘Ecological Footprint’ is a way to measure our human demand for nature.

The Ecological Footprint Explained

Here's everything you need to know about ecological footprints:

The ecological footprint (also called "environmental footprint", is an indicator developed by the Global Footprint Network to determine humanity's ecological footprint.

Therefore, an ecological footprint analysis can help us to better understand our unsustainable consumption of natural resources, our carbon footprints, ecological overshoot, the impact carbon emissions has on the human economy, and more.

👉 An ecological footprint determines the amount of raw materials consumed and the amount of harmful substances (such as waste generated, carbon dioxide emissions or greenhouse gasses) generated by human activities, which are then released into the atmosphere and contribute to humanity's total ecological footprint.

Calculating an ecological footprint has never been more imperative, as human beings continue to create deleterious ecological footprint measures on the entire planet. 

The more we seek to engage with ecological footprint accounting, the more we can work to protect biologically productive area, avoid new, built up land area, protect fishing grounds, grazing land, capita consumption, and how many resources we consume on behalf of national footprint accounts.

💡 In short, the more we consume, the more resources we use and the more we pollute – such as by driving cars more frequently that contributes to an increase in air pollution or failing to protect our fragile water resources.

The environmental footprint is calculated in terms of the number of planets or land area (better referred to in ecological footprint accounting as global hectares). This works to determine how much space we need to support our current lifestyle. 

This calculation can be done on an individual, national or planetary scale. 

It would take 1.7 planets to meet our current consumption habits;

On average, a European needs the equivalent of 9 soccer fields (or 4.5 gha hectares) to meet their needs;

On average, an American needs the equivalent 5.1 earths, or 8.1 gha hectares to meet their needs.

Here's a table to compare and contrast the amount of resources needed for countries to meet their needs on a global scale per global hectare and how many planets are required to suffice their particular lifestyle:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>Earths Needed</title>
    <style>
        table {
            width: 100%;
            border-collapse: collapse;
        }
        th, td {
            border: 1px solid #ddd;
            padding: 8px;
            text-align: left;
        }
        th {
            background-color: #f2f2f2;
        }
        .earths {
            display: flex;
            align-items: center;
        }
        .earths img {
            width: 20px;
            height: 20px;
            margin-right: 2px;
        }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <h2>How many Earths would we need if everyone lived like U.S.A. residents?</h2>
    <table>
        <thead>
            <tr>
                <th>Country</th>
                <th>Earths Needed</th>
                <th></th>
            </tr>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
            <tr>
                <td>U.S.A.</td>
                <td>5.1</td>
                <td class="earths">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Australia</td>
                <td>4.5</td>
                <td class="earths">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Russia</td>
                <td>3.4</td>
                <td class="earths">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Germany</td>
                <td>3.0</td>
                <td class="earths">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Japan</td>
                <td>2.9</td>
                <td class="earths">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Portugal</td>
                <td>2.9</td>
                <td class="earths">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>France</td>
                <td>2.8</td>
                <td class="earths">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Spain</td>
                <td>2.8</td>
                <td class="earths">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Switzerland</td>
                <td>2.8</td>
                <td class="earths">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Italy</td>
                <td>2.7</td>
                <td class="earths">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>U.K.</td>
                <td>2.6</td>
                <td class="earths">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>China</td>
                <td>2.4</td>
                <td class="earths">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Brazil</td>
                <td>1.6</td>
                <td class="earths">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>India</td>
                <td>0.8</td>
                <td class="earths">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>World</td>
                <td>1.7</td>
                <td class="earths">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                    <img src="earth.jpg" alt="Earth">
                </td>
            </tr>
        </tbody>
    </table>
</body>
</html>


In the end, whichever way you cut it – we evidently over-exploiting the Earth's resources, to such an extent that nature has started to find it more and more difficult to regenerate itself. 

👉 Even if it seems on the surface that there is no ray of hope in the midst of this gloomy picture, the truth is – we are all able to reverse these negative ecological footprint trends by changing our behavior.

What factors are used to calculate our ecological footprint?

Some of the factors used to calculate our ecological footprint include our food, our housing (in terms of surface and energy), our consumption of goods and services, or our modes of transport have an impact on the environment. 

In other words, our daily life itself is likely to contribute to pollution – as we are not aware of the environmental impact of many of our choices. This being said, some activities still remain more harmful than others – such as the choice of our means of transportation, as this is still a sector around the world which continues to contribute to excess GHG emissions as it requires the use of fossil fuel.

Remember: the over-exploitation of resources and the waste produced by humans have serious consequences on the planet, and on its mechanisms – such as the regeneration of natural resources, biologically productive areas, absorption and rejection of waste, wastes generated, and more.

💡 In short, an ecological footprint is the ratio between consumption and biocapacity (i.e. the earth’s ability to produce the resources we are demanding from it) – and it is calculated by measuring the things we eat, buy, and do in our daily lives.

What is the difference between an ecological footprint and a carbon footprint?

People often use the terms "ecological footprint" and "carbon footprint, but beware – the two terms are not one in the same, as a carbon footprint specifically refers to the carbon dioxide or greenhouse gas emissions emitted by an individual or nation, whereas an ecological footprint refers to the amount of land area needed to sustain the particular lifestyle of that region.

💡 In addition to this, be careful not to confuse carbon footprint and environmental footprint. 

These two calculation methods have in common that they raise awareness of one's environmental impact (one's CO2 emissions, in particular), as well as the need to start a real energy transition. 

Nevertheless, these two footprints do not reflect the same information:

The carbon footprint is calculated in CO₂ and quantifies the GHG emissions of an individual, a population or an activity;

The ecological footprint is calculated in surface area (global hectares or number of planets) and measures the surface area necessary for the consumption of an individual, a population or an activity.

Why should you calculate your environmental footprint? 

The Global Footprint Network determines the exact date of Overshoot Day, based on the environmental footprint on a national and/or global scale. 

In short, this is the date from which the planet's annual resources are exhausted. 

👉 Remember, as of Overshoot Day – we also exceed the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that our ecosystem is able to naturally eliminate over the span of one, single year. 

For several years, we have been talking about an ecological deficit, since our environmental impact exceeds the planet's available footprint and biocapacity. Even more alarming, this date comes earlier and earlier, as time goes by (July 28th, 2022, August 2nd, 2023, etc.). This means that from midsummer on, humanity is living on credit – the same way someone with a credit card but no money in their bank account continues purchasing things they can't actually afford. 

Luckily, calculating our ecological footprint allows us to identify bad practices and fix them moving forward – and can help a brand to work on the development of a more sustainable business model as well. Ultimately, this can facilitate a greater pool or resources and wealth to share long-term.

Calculating your environmental footprint: benefits and estimation tools

To adopt sustainable behavior, it is important to take stock beforehand – meaning it is crucial to understand your personal footprint, how human enterprise contributes to waste production, and how humanity's demand (especially in densely populated areas) cannot keep up with the current land and water available. 

💡 After all, how can you change your lifestyle, without knowing what further improvements can be made? 

This is exactly why calculating your ecological footprint can help to better understand the difference between demand versus supply, and how many countries and the world are living in delusion – believing that the Earth has an infinite ability to conduct regenerative capacity behavior, when in reality – more carbon dioxide will do nothing but continue to raise our global footprints

Tools to calculate your environmental footprint 

There are several environmental footprint calculators. These tools usually take the form of a questionnaire divided into several parts: food, place of living, modes of transport used, etc. 

According to the answers provided, the tool determines the GHG emissions generated by these consumption habits, and then suggests some areas of improvement intended to promote the transition to a more ecological lifestyle. 

Examples include the Global Footprint Network calculator, the ADEME calculator, and the WWF calculator. 

👉 However, if we were to pick our favorite based on trying to calculate your personal ecological footprint – we would have to go with the Global Footprint Network Calculator. This is because the Global Footprint Network Calculator offers exceptional data quality as it allows for units in both square feet and square meters, miles and kilometers, and is user-friendly regardless of where you reside in the world.

5 ways to easily reduce your ecological footprint

It's more than possible to reduce our global ecological footprint, but this can only be done when we target the individual changes that need to be made – which is why almost everyone can benefit not only their own lives by taking an ecological footprint test, but help humans and other species in the world to ensure biocapcitiy remains full on the supply side of things.

Wondering about some of the ways you can reduce your negative impact on the environment? 

Here are just a few of our eco-tips to help reduce your ecological footprint:

This first point is surely the most important, since it is one of the main contributors to the ecological footprint – as road trips and short haul flights continue to take the world by storm. 

💡 Did you know that the transportation sector in the U.S. created 1.86 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2023 alone?

Unsurprisingly, airplanes and diesel (or gasoline) cars are the most polluting modes of transportation. In light of this observation, it is advisable to try to reduce your ecological footprint via transportation – such as by opting for cycling, walking and public transport (metro, bus or train) whenever available. 

If it is impossible to leave the car in the garage, carpooling and the electric cars (EVs) are viable alternatives to limit CO₂ emissions. 

👉 However, this doesn't mean that you need to give up carbon-intensive means of traveling, such as flying, altogether – seeing as some trips to distant countries leave no other alternatives. In this case, there is no need to kick ourselves for emitting a high carbon footprint, as it's easier than you think to compensate for the CO₂  emitted during this trip.

This can be done by simply observing the aspects of your daily life on which you could make valuable GHG savings, before and after your trip – in the same way you'll eat very little before going to a potluck party.

Here, the advantage is twofold: in addition to acting for the planet, you can cut back on your electricity bill by implementing energy efficiency! 

This happens, first of all, by reducing the environmental impact of your heating and cooling.

💡 In fact, electric boilers and coal-powered energy emit 20 times more emissions in comparison to solar panels, photovoltaic installations or heat pumps. In addition, electric heating wastes 6 times more energy than a heat pump.

In order to reduce their energy consumption, homeowners can invest in the installation of new equipment, giving priority to the use of renewable energy. Tenants can send a letter to their landlord to request the installation of a green alternative and good thermal insulation. 

On average, the unused rooms should be kept at a temperature of 15 to 18 °C to help saving on electricity consumption, with rooms constantly in use (such as the living room) should be heated to no more than 21 degrees.

Be sure not to leave water consumption out! Roughly speaking, the average American uses 82 gallons of water per day (washing machine, shower, toilet flush and dishwasher). 

Therefore, it would be wise to use water wisely by not leaving the tap running when brushing your teeth, for example. This could mean taking showers instead of baths and not running the laundry machine or dishwasher half empty.

In the U.S., the average American wastes 4.9 pounds of garbage every day – when some, if not all of it, could be either recycled, upcycled, or composted

Optimize recycling, to offer a second life to waste and avoid the extraction of new natural resources ;

Buy less or second-hand – such as at a thrift store.

The average American eats 347.36 grams of meat everyday, and while meat isn't the worst thing on the planet – we've discovered that isn't the way to reducing your ecological footprint, either.

In order to reduce this rate, we need to rethink our consumption on an individual scale to avoid global food waste.  

💡 A little tip: foods marked "best before" can be eaten a few days after the expiration date. 

In the same way, consuming in a sustainable way implies the adoption of certain good practices:

reducing meat consumption to adopt a flexitarian, vegetarian or even vegan diet;

making it a priority to purchase organic, local and seasonal products, as well as short circuits, rather than imported products and prepared meals to be kept in the freezer. 

Remember, 1 kilogram of beef produces almost 100 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (kg CO₂ equivalence factors), meaning that seeking to reduce your meat consumption and eating local, seasonal produce could make a dramatic difference in your ecological footprint.

5. Remaining Aware of Your Surrounds & The Rebound Effect

The rebound effect (also known as Jevons' paradox) is a particularly frustrating paradox. 

There are two types: the direct effect and the indirect effect.

In the first case, the efforts made lead to disastrous results. This is the case, for example, when we over consume an alternative initially considered better than the initial solution – such as when someone eats more of a low-calorie snack because they are lower in fat to begin with, when in reality – you're consuming the same amount, if not more, of calories.

💡 The most popular ecological example is the use of LED bulbs, as their low environmental impact intrigues consumers to leave them on for long periods of time. The result is that this neglect negates all the efforts made, causing an even more negative impact than the original problem.

In the second case (the indirect rebound effect), a series of good practices is adopted, the results of which are then completely canceled out by a given action.  For example, this may happen when you make good efforts on your daily energy consumption, only until you buy a brand new diesel car.

👉 Therefore, it is crucial to remain mindful every step of the journey to reduce your ecological impact and to be critical of all of your actions.

Overall, there are many ways to get started in reducing your ecological footprint – and it could not only help you to live a more sustainable, fulfilling life – but the planet, too.

If reading this article about ecological footprint has made you interested in reducing your carbon emissions to further fight against climate change – Greenly can help you!

At Greenly we can help you to assess your company’s carbon footprint, and then give you the tools you need to cut down on emissions. We offer a free demo for you to better understand our platform and all that it has to offer – including assistance with boosting supplier engagement, personalized assistance, and new ways to involve your employees.

Click here to learn more about Greenly and how we can help you reduce your carbon footprint.

In this article, we'll explain in depth what plastic is, why plastic is bad for the environment and the ocean, and solutions to mitigate the use and overall impact of plastic.

Why is Plastic Bad for the Environment?

Plastic is a material that is deeply intertwined with our modern lives. Plastic exists in nearly every industry, from food to cars to footwear to space equipment – but we talk about it as both being incredibly useful and dangerous for species worldwide, as it contributes to plastic waste, plastic pollution, plastic debris, plastic packaging waste, and plastic waste generation. The plastics industry is notorious for being bad for the environment.

💡 What is plastic, and why is the manufacturing process for plastic produced makes harmful to the earth and human health?

Plastic is a material that can be shaped or molded easily and can be synthetic, semisynthetic, or natural – which can then be molded into a wide variety of materials. 

💡 Plastic is extremely malleable due to the fact that it's made up of polymers, making it easier to cut through in addition to it's low melting point. 

At the molecular level, polymers are long chains of individual monomer links which bond easily to each  other. Polymers are also so bulky that they don't stack together well. This results in a compound that:

Once a completely natural product, much of today's plastic is man-made and largely dependent upon fossil fuels. From polymers to nurdles, learn how plastic is created and what we can do to slow the lasting repercussions this material will have on both our planet and our lives.
➡ Subscribe: http://bit.ly/NatGeoSubscribe

About National Geographic:
National Geographic is the world's premium destination for science, exploration, and adventure. Through their world-class scientists, photographers, journalists, and filmmakers, Nat Geo gets you closer to the stories that matter and past the edge of what's possible.

Get More National Geographic:
Official Site: http://bit.ly/NatGeoOfficialSite
Facebook: http://bit.ly/FBNatGeo
Twitter: http://bit.ly/NatGeoTwitter
Instagram: http://bit.ly/NatGeoInsta

Plastics 101 | National Geographic

How is plastic used in the plastics industry?

💡 In comparison to other materials, such as metal or glass, plastic is usually lighter and more flexible – seeing as plastic is able to achieve a feasible glass transition temperature (Tg) which allows for soft, flexible, and even rubber like state materials to be made. 

This makes global plastic production particularly useful for a wide range of purposes, and is precisely why the plastic industry has found so much success in creating beverage containers for several other industries, such as with:

plastic additives or other commodity plastics (such as plastic films used for new containers or shipping products like food packaging)

👉 However, the problem with fully synthetic plastic is that it doesn't contain any molecules from our natural environment – meaning that engineering plastics like these requires even more industrial activity, which results in even more emissions.

Luckily, most plastic items are recyclable – seeing as plastic can be melted and then reshaped, so most plastics can be heated until they can be formed into something else. Knowing this about the recycling process helps explain why it's bad to throw a banana peel in your recycling bin – it could get heated in with the plastic, rendering the reformed banana-plastic useless.  

Where do plastic materials come from and how is plastic made?

Plastic can be made in a variety of ways with a variety of materials. These materials can come from natural sources like latex from tree sap, tar, and amber. However, it is much cheaper and easier to make plastic from fossil fuels like crude oil and natural gas, partly because our industrial system is based on these fuels.

Intense heat or pressure is required to shape the plastic into something functional. For example, crude oil is heated in a furnace in the refining process before it is distilled into lighter compounds. Through a process called polymerization, the light compounds are connected into polymers either with the addition of a catalyst or the removal of water.   

The table below will depict how much plastic used according to each industry:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>Global Plastic Waste Production</title>
    <style>
        table {
            width: 50%;
            border-collapse: collapse;
            font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
            margin: 20px 0;
            font-size: 14px;
        }
        th, td {
            border: 1px solid #dddddd;
            text-align: left;
            padding: 8px;
        }
        th {
            background-color: #f2f2f2;
        }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <table>
        <tr>
            <th>Waste Type</th>
            <th>Global Plastic Waste Production (million tonnes)</th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Packaging</td>
            <td>155.9</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Consumer Goods</td>
            <td>47.0</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Automotive</td>
            <td>47.9</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Textiles</td>
            <td>42.9</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Construction</td>
            <td>21.6</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Electrical/Electronic Devices</td>
            <td>15.9</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Other</td>
            <td>67.7</td>
        </tr>
    </table>
</body>
</html>

Every part of the “plastic life cycle” is harmful for the environment and creates pollution. 

Here just a few of the ways that the plastic pollution crisis has come to be:

Extraction of Fossil Fuels – Plastics exhibit enormous potential to continue emitting insurmountable amounts of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, as they currently account for over 3% of global GHG emissions. For example, it is estimated that people throw away 300 million tons of plastic every year – of which ends up in the landfill and contributes to even more greenhouse gas emissions.

👉  Extracting the fossil fuel required to create new plastics has negative impacts on local ecosystems by disturbing wildlife, polluting ground water systems, and causing oil spills in the ocean.

Production of Plastics – This refers to the mechanical properties, electrical equipment, high temperature, and how plastic is molded repeatedly before it can be used for commercial purposes – such as a water bottle cap or plastic mold for product packaging. The production process releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, exacerbating human-induced climate change and the distribution component plastic's life cycle. As goods produced around the world are intended for international markets, more fossil fuels need to be burned to deliver the products.

Distribution – The distribution of and use of plastic products alone contributes to poor environmental conditions and has a profound impact on any nearby marine environment. For instance, the United States is responsible for generating over 35 million tones of plastic – but only about 9% of that plastic gets recycled. And in that process, enormous amounts of energy, often generated from fossil fuels, need to be used to heat the plastic so that it can be remolded for new use.

💡 About 12% of the plastic produced ends up being incinerated. The fumes from both recycling and incineration add more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere – and then, of course, the rest is plastic pollution.

Plastic Trash – This refers to the consistent poor disposal, recycling, incineration, and litter of various plastics such as polyvinyl chloride – which is the industrial-like-strength plastic used for wire cables and medical purposes. As a whole, we have produced a striking 9.2 billion tons of plastic since 1950, with production doubling each year on average. The most long-lasting plastics can take up to 500 years to decompose. In addition to this, a wide variety of different chemicals are added during the production process depending on the use of the plastic – which can further impact air quality and air pollution.

About 40% of plastic produced are single-use plastics – they have an intended short lifespan. Think of plastic bags, packaged water, to-go containers and plastic ware. They all often end up in landfills or in nature. 

👉 Therefore, how much plastic waste is produced is irrelevant, as plastic waste inputs damage to the planet even if plastic consumption is reduced.

Plastic, which comes in many shapes and sizes, can end up polluting nearly every corner of our world – bodies of water, ecosystems, and our atmosphere. 

Unsurprisingly, plastic ends up in and around our oceans, which harms marine life, our natural environment, and contributes to ocean pollution. Due to gravity, water collects in rivers and lakes, winding its way to the ocean.

 Many aquatic animals consume plastic as they believe it to be prey, and as a result – we are eating microplastics in the fish we eat. 

💡Ultimately, plastic threatens ecosystems, lowers biodiversity, and can even change the flow of nutrients between plants and animals.

As plastic is worn down by seawater and sand, it creates microplastics – which refer to plastic bits smaller than 5 millimeters (0.2 inches). Microplastics are more pervasive than larger plastics – they have been found in the guts of plankton: one of the ocean's smallest living creatures.  

Microplastics also show up in sediment layers of the ocean floor. The accumulation by year is on pace with the historical trend of plastic production worldwide.  

👉 However, it is important to note that even larger plastics have been found in the depths of the ocean. For instance, when buoyant plastics such as water bottles and plastic bags are in the water for long enough– algae and other life grows on them which weighs them down enough to sink to the ocean floor.  

Solutions to reduce plastic pollution & plastic usage

Unfortunately, recycling plastic isn't all what it's chalked up to be – seeing as it's not an efficient use of energy – and not as much plastic get recycled as you may think.

According to an investigation, the U.S. has been shipping hundreds of thousands of tons of plastic to  other countries, including developing countries that are poorly regulated. Some of these countries include  Bangladesh, Senegal, and Laos – where the U.S. can find relaxed environmental regulation and cheap labor to handle the grueling recycling process.

However, much of the American plastic that is transported abroad for recycling cannot be processed. This was revealed with China and Hong Kong in 2015, as they received more than half of the plastic that Americans placed in the recycle bin. 

👉 Regardless, the majority of this load of plastic ended up in a landfill due to contamination of the plastic. As a result, China now only accepts plastic that is well cleaned. This is why waste management systems should seek to rectify the way plastic waste is created and overall plastic collection, as most plastic is ended up in landfill.

Some places have turned towards banning certain types of plastic in order to limit its negative environmental impact and encourage the government to employ more stringent legislation for recycling. 

For instance, California recently passed a law to eliminate single-use plastics. By 2032, all packaging in California must be recyclable or compostable – as plastic pollution facts are encouraging greater climate legislation.

Not only has Canada passed a similar law to California, but they also have a plan to reach zero plastic waste by 2030. Also, India has their own ban on single-use plastics. They elected to ban ear buds in addition to straws, cigarette packets, cutlery, and more.

👉 Overall, banning the use of single-use plastics – could help to mitigate the colossal environmental impact created by plastic. 

Seeing as plastic bans won't get to the root of the problem, it's important for us as a society to tackle over excessive consumerism behavior that aids in the negative impact created by plastic. 

💡 This will require innovative solutions to create, use and dispose of items without the use of plastic and reduce the need for single-use items.

Here are just a few suggestions to reduce your single-plastic usage:

Shop at bulk food stores and use ration containers for dry goods

Bring a durable container with you when you get take-out food or when you need a to-go  container at a restaurant

Wash with a bar of soap rather than liquid soap

👉 Changing your habits to reduce your plastic usage will not only create a positive environmental impact but also you will be kind on  your pocket – as you'll save money on plastic bags and plastic water bottles in your everyday, now "greener" lifestyle.

Subscribe and 🔔 to the BBC 👉 https://bit.ly/BBCYouTubeSub
Watch the BBC first on iPlayer 👉 https://bbc.in/iPlayer-Home Plastic is everywhere nowadays and, as we try to cut back on our use, we ask, how did we get a world so full of plastic?

Watch [more] [of] (programme title) on the BBC: (deep BBC iPlayer link either episode or brand level e.g. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b0070hvg --- this will automatically switch between programme pages and BBC iPlayer depending on availability)

(programme title) | Series # Episode # | BBC

#bbc
All our TV channels and S4C are available to watch live through BBC iPlayer, although some programmes may not be available to stream online due to rights. If you would like to read more on what types of programmes are available to watch live, check the 'Are all programmes that are broadcast available on BBC iPlayer?' FAQ 👉 https://bbc.in/2m8ks6v.

How did we get to a world full of plastic? - BBC

Additional solutions to reduce plastic pollution

Scientists have found some solutions to break down plastic without heat and are working hard to   implement them, such as via the use of microbes to help decompose plastic at a more rapid pace.

💡 Wax worms and mealworms can break down plastics into compost that can be used as fertilizer. There  are some microbes that can decompose plastics in mere hours, rather than the usual years needed.

Until our society can ween off of its current dependency on plastic, we can turn to natural sources of rubber such as a rubber tree – as it produces latex, which can be used like plastic. In addition to this, amber has latex which can also be used like plastic, and it is sometimes found while mining for other minerals.

Of course, these solutions do not solve the root of the problem regarding the excess consumerism present in our society – as plastic is all-around energy intensive at every step of its lifecycle. 

Therefore, it is crucial to change our behaviors and encourage governments to ban the most harmful plastics – but for the time being, we can all do our part to reduce the amount of plastic we use in our everyday lives. 

If learning about the negative impacts of plastic on the environment has encouraged you to want to do more to limit your impact on the environment, we can help.

At Greenly, we can help you to assess your company’s carbon footprint, and then give you the tools you need to cut down on emissions. We offer a free demo for you to better understand our platform and all that it has to offer – including assistance with boosting supplier engagement, personalized assistance, and new ways to involve your employees.

Learn more about Greenly’s carbon management platform here. 

This article explores the primary causes of global warming, its effects on the planet, and the urgent need for action.

What is Global Warming?

Global warming is a pressing issue with increasingly visible impacts. Recent history has shown us devastating wildfires in California and Canada, catastrophic flooding in Pakistan, and unprecedented heatwaves across Europe. These events are clear indicators of significant environmental disruption.

Contrary to what some skeptics might say, global warming involves more than just rising temperatures. It is a growing threat to all species, especially humans.

👉 This article explores the primary causes of global warming, its effects on the planet, and the urgent need for action.

Global warming could do more than just melt polar ice.  It could change our maps, and displace people from cities and tropical islands.
See all National Geographic videos:
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/?source=4001
➡ Subscribe: http://bit.ly/NatGeoSubscribe
➡ Get More 101 Videos: http://bit.ly/NatGeo101

#NationalGeographic #GlobalWarming #Educational

About National Geographic’s 101 Series:
Explore and experience the forces that shape the world around us.

Get More National Geographic:
Official Site: http://bit.ly/NatGeoOfficialSite
Facebook: http://bit.ly/FBNatGeo
Twitter: http://bit.ly/NatGeoTwitter
Instagram: http://bit.ly/NatGeoInsta

About National Geographic:
National Geographic is the world's premium destination for science, exploration, and adventure. Through their world-class scientists, photographers, journalists, and filmmakers, Nat Geo gets you closer to the stories that matter and past the edge of what's possible.

Global Warming 101 | National Geographic
https://youtu.be/oJAbATJCugs

National Geographic
https://www.youtube.com/natgeo

Global Warming 101 | National Geographic

Global warming, often referred to as "climate change" is the long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to human activities. This rise in temperature is primarily caused by the increased concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere. 

Put simply, these gases trap heat from the sun, preventing it from escaping back into space, which leads to a warming effect. This phenomenon has far-reaching consequences for our planet, affecting weather patterns, sea levels, and ecosystems globally.

To fully understand global warming, it's essential to understand the greenhouse effect, so what does this term mean?  

The Earth absorbs energy from the Sun in the form of visible light. While some of this energy warms the surface, the Earth also emits energy back into space as infrared radiation. Greenhouse gases (GHGs) like carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and water vapor (H₂O) in the atmosphere absorb and re-radiate some of this infrared radiation, trapping heat and warming the planet.

The greenhouse effect can be explained through the following steps:

Solar radiation absorption - The Sun emits energy that reaches the Earth's atmosphere. About 30% of this energy is reflected back into space by clouds, atmospheric particles, and reflective surfaces like ice. The remaining 70% is absorbed by the Earth's surface, warming it.

Infrared radiation emission - The warmed Earth emits energy back toward space as infrared radiation.

GHG absorption and re-radiation - Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb some of this infrared radiation and then re-radiate it in all directions, including back toward the Earth's surface. This process effectively traps heat in the atmosphere, preventing it from escaping into space.

Without the greenhouse effect, the Earth's average temperature would be about -18°C, far too cold to sustain life as we know it. Thanks to the natural greenhouse effect, the global average surface temperature is a much warmer +15°C.

However, there's a difference between the naturally occurring greenhouse effect and the anthropogenic greenhouse effect. The anthropogenic greenhouse effect refers to the human-induced greenhouse effect, generated by human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes. 

These activities have significantly increased the concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere, leading to unprecedented concentrations not seen in three million years. This increase directly impacts the global average temperature, which has risen by 1.1°C since the early 20th century, making the 2011-2020 period the warmest on record. 

The anthropogenic greenhouse effect is the primary driver of global warming and is resulting in harmful changes in weather patterns, more extreme weather events, melting ice caps, rising sea levels, and disrupted ecosystems.

<table>
  <tr>
    <th>Year Interval</th>
    <th>GHG Concentrations (ppm CO2-equivalent)</th>
    <th>Global Temperature Rise (°C)</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Pre-industrial</td>
    <td>280 (approx.)</td>
    <td>Baseline</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>1870-1920</td>
    <td>290-300</td>
    <td>~0.2°C</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>1920-1970</td>
    <td>300-320</td>
    <td>~0.4°C</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>1970-2020</td>
    <td>320-410</td>
    <td>~1.0°C</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>2020-2070 (projected)</td>
    <td>410-500 (projected)</td>
    <td>1.5-4.5°C (projected)</td>
  </tr>
</table>


What are the main causes of global warming?

Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas, are major contributors to global warming. The combustion of these fuels for energy production and transportation releases significant amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere, enhancing the greenhouse effect and raising global temperatures.

The Industrial Revolution, which began in the late 18th century, marked a turning point in fossil fuel consumption. The widespread use of coal-powered steam engines, factories, and later, electricity generation. As industrialization spread, so did the reliance on fossil fuels. By the mid-20th century, oil and natural gas joined coal as primary energy sources, fueling transportation and industrial activities.

Since the pre-industrial era, atmospheric CO₂ levels have increased from about 280 parts per million (ppm) to over 420 ppm as of 2024. This rise correlates closely with the increase in global average temperatures, which have risen by approximately 1.1°C since the late 19th century.

Energy production - The energy sector is the largest source of global CO₂ emissions. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimated that over 75% of global carbon emissions​ stem from the energy sector. Electricity generation from coal, oil, and natural gas releases billions of tons of CO₂ annually.

Transportation - The transportation sector, which includes cars, trucks, airplanes, and ships, is another major source of CO₂ emissions. According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), it contributes approximately 25% of global CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel combustion.

Industry - Industrial processes, including the production of cement, steel, and chemicals, also contribute substantially to global GHG emissions. These activities not only burn fossil fuels for energy but also release CO₂ as a byproduct of chemical reactions.

The rapid economic growth and industrialization in developing countries have led to increased fossil fuel consumption. Countries like China and India, which are experiencing significant economic expansion, have seen corresponding rises in GHG emissions. According to the European Commission's 2023 Report, China alone accounted for about 29.16% of global CO₂ emissions, while India contributed ​7.33%.

The profound impact of human activities, particularly fossil fuel consumption, on the planet's climate has led some scientists to propose a new geological epoch: the Anthropocene. This era emphasizes the dominant influence of humans on the Earth's geology and ecosystems, marked by significant changes in climate patterns, biodiversity loss, and alterations to natural processes.

Deforestation is a significant driver of climate change, contributing to the increased concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. This process primarily occurs due to agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, mining, and urbanization.

💡 Land use changes, especially deforestation, account for between 12 and 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Agriculture - Clearing forests for cropland and pasture is a leading cause of deforestation. Large-scale agriculture, particularly for crops like soy and palm oil, results in vast forest areas being converted into farmland.

Infrastructure development - Building roads, dams, and other infrastructure projects often requires clearing large forest areas, leading to habitat destruction and increased carbon emissions.

Mining activities - Extractive industries, such as mining for minerals and fossil fuels, lead to significant deforestation and environmental degradation.

Urbanisation - Expanding cities and towns encroach upon forested areas, leading to habitat loss and increased carbon release.

Forests act as natural carbon sinks, absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere and storing it in biomass and soil. When forests are cut down or burned, the stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere, exacerbating global warming. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), approximately 10 million hectares of forest are lost annually.

The cycle of deforestation and climate change

Deforestation not only contributes to climate change but is also aggravated by it. Increased global temperatures and prolonged droughts make forests more susceptible to wildfires. These fires destroy large forest areas, releasing vast amounts of CO₂ and creating a feedback loop that accelerates global warming.

The Amazon rainforest, often referred to as the "lungs of the planet," plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate. Covering approximately 5.5 million square kilometers, the Amazon has faced significant deforestation, particularly in recent years.

Under the administration of former President Jair Bolsonaro, deforestation rates soared. Environmental laws were scaled back, and large areas of Indigenous lands were opened to commercial exploitation. As a result, 2021 saw deforestation in the Amazon reach a fifteen-year high. This loss of forest cover not only threatened biodiversity but also diminished the Amazon's capacity as a carbon sink, crucial for absorbing CO₂ and producing oxygen.

However, the election of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in late 2022 marked a turning point. Lula has taken steps to restore environmental protections and has sought international support to safeguard the Amazon. In the first seven months of his administration, there was a 42% reduction in deforestation compared to the same period in 2022. By July 2023, satellite data from Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) showed a 66% decline in deforestation rates compared to July 2022, indicating a positive trend. 

👉 Despite this progress, vital forests like the Amazon need long-term protection and shouldn't be subject to changing political priorities.

Livestock farming is another significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane (CH₄), which is released during the digestive processes of animals such as cows and sheep. However, methane emissions are not the only concern; the entire livestock farming process generates substantial GHGs.

💡 The FAO estimates that livestock farming is responsible for 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Key sources of emissions in Livestock Farming

Methane emissions - Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential much higher than CO₂. It is primarily produced during the digestive process  of animals such as cows.

Ines Gendre

Your Ecological Footprint: How to Calculate It & Why It Matters

Why is Plastic Bad for the Environment?

What is Global Warming?

What is the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)?

Circular Economy: Definition and Principles

What is The Albedo Effect And How Does it Impact Global Warming?

Overshoot Day: What Does It Imply?

All You Need to Know About Carbon Capture

Is cotton culture really sustainable?