by Marie Claude, Concordia University
Xiangjuan Liu, Concordia
Jen Phillips, Concordia University
Introduction
In the past 20 years, the issue of climate change has materialized and we are now beginning to witness the consequences of our unsustainable consumption. Through many shapes and forms, the impacts are visible as tsunamis, floods, draught and extinction are on the rise; on a micro-level our summers are getting warmer, our winters shorter, and a standard trip to the grocery store becomes more costly. Fortunately, we are in the preliminary stages of this change and through acknowledging the need to adapt we can adjust our lives accordingly and work towards preventing the predicted future from coming to fruition.
The concept of the carbon footprint has been introduced as a means to gauge our individual impacts on the environment. Through assessment of multiple factors the carbon footprint is an indicator representing the volume of carbon dioxide emitted over time in correlation with the lifestyle we choose. In combination with the carbon footprint there are costs are associated worth careful consideration.
In the following web quest, you have the opportunity to take action against climate change by learning how to evaluate your carbon footprint and the costs associated with this lifestyle. Proceeding, you will learn how to minimize this impact from an environmental and budgeting standpoint standpoint.