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Can someonr explain thr math of how someone is supposed to be able to be even close to net zero carbon footprint? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago by Kage520@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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I just got a CO2 meter and checked the levels in my house and went down a rabbit hole trying to address the issue. Apparently it would take 249 areca palms to offset the carbon RESPIRATION of one adult.

So okay 249 trees just for me to breathe, not to mention the rest of the bad things we all do.

So how can this math ever balance? 249 trees just to break even seems like an impossible number. Then all the flights I have been on, miles driven, etc.

I feel like that's... Way too many trees. Is it hopeless or am I missing something?

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[-] CookieOfFortune@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

A quick Google search says there are 3 trillion trees on Earth. So that's 500 trees per person but as mentioned before things like algae and other sources make up more.
The carbon from your breathing is carbon neutral since all the carbon in your body comes from food which comes ultimately comes from plants. However the carbon dioxide used to produce and transport your food is where the excess comes from.
If you want to minimize your carbon footprint it's more about understanding which behaviors contribute the most. Eg an economy flight from the US to Europe is like 1.5 tons of CO2. That's like years of respiration.
Of course the problem is hard to solve as an individual. Maybe there just needs to be assignable liability for certain activities and the correct legal and economic system setup to optimize better for ecological issues.

this post was submitted on 20 Aug 2023

124 points (89.7% liked)

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