Your carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gases that you produce as you live your life. The average U.S. per capita carbon footprint is 18.3 tons, while the global average is 6.3 tons. To limit global warming to 2°C or less, we need to reduce our carbon footprint to about 2 tons per person by 2050.

Here are some of the easiest ways you can reduce your carbon footprint:

• Eat low on the food chain by choosing more plant-based foods and less meat and dairy. Livestock is responsible for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from methane that cows and sheep belch out.
   
• Choose organic and local foods that are in season to avoid the emissions from transporting and processing food from far away.
   
• Reduce your food waste by planning meals ahead of time, freezing the excess and reusing leftovers. Compost your food waste if possible.
   
• Don’t buy fast fashion that goes out of style quickly and ends up in landfills where it produces methane. Instead, invest in quality clothes that last longer and suit your personal style. Buy secondhand clothes or swap with friends when possible.
   
• Walk, bike or take public transport instead of driving whenever possible. Cars burn large amounts of fossil fuels and produce significant emissions. Living car-free can save up to 2 tons of CO2e per year compared to a lifestyle using a car.
   
• Take fewer flights and consider taking a train or bus for long-distance travel. Airplanes burn large amounts of fossil fuels and produce significant emissions. Taking one less long-haul return flight can save up to almost 2 tons of CO2e.
   
• Save energy at home by lowering your heating and cooling, switching to LED light bulbs and energy-efficient electric appliances, washing your laundry with cold water or hanging things to dry instead of using a dryer. Improving your home’s energy efficiency can save up to 900 kilograms of CO2e per year.
   
• Use renewable energy sources such as solar panels or wind turbines if possible. If not, choose an electricity provider that offers green power options.
   
• Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle as much as you can. Avoid single-use plastics and disposable items that end up in landfills or oceans where they harm wildlife and release greenhouse gases as they degrade.
   
• Educate yourself and others about climate change and its impacts on people and nature. Join a local group or campaign that advocates for climate action.

I hope this helps you take some steps towards living more sustainably for yourself and future generations.