For this Eportfolio project for Geog 316 I will be doing a journal tracking the amount of carbon emissions I reduced by walking to Capilano University instead of driving. To begin I will track the days I walk and drive as well as the time taken to arrive, then total the amount of carbon emissions emitted from my car. Additionally, finding the total hypothetical amount I would have used if I only drove to campus and comparing the difference. Over the next 46 days I will be measuring these numbers, by writing down in a calendar how I attended school and if I was absent.
A little background about myself, I live a very simple shut in lifestyle especially with being in Covid-19 pandemic. In short, I do not drive very often and the current gas prices help with that, also I use only electricity-dependent devices and appliances within my home and I am within walking distance to stores. As such, I have calculated the average carbon emissions I emit from my household over a span of 46 days, which is 0.21 tons of CO2e. I live 2.5 km walking distance from the University but for driving it is 2.8 km. Now for my car, it is a Mazda 3 and has decent fuel efficiency of 8.8 Litres per 100 km. With some simple maths and a Carbon emission calculator my car will produce about 0.001 t of CO2e per every 2.8 km. Even including unexpected traffic and stoplights the difference in 0.001 t of CO2e will barely change.
As shown in the calendars, I drove to the university 4 times, walked 3 times, missed classes 3 times and had 1 in person class changed to an online class over the 46 days. By measuring the total distance driven I emitted 0.004 t of CO2. However, if I were to have driven 10 times instead of the 4 I would have emitted 0.01 t of CO2, which is a significant difference!
Overall, this project has made me more aware of my repercussions from driving in regards to carbon emissions. I still think that personally I add very little into the large scale impacts of CO2 emissions in regards to Climate Change. Though, this is probably due to me being raised during these last 20 years where there has been a large amount of awareness brought upon the public. Also with being in the interdisciplinary studies program there is a large push to bring awareness, acknowledgment and accountability about Climate change to students. This has led to me being more vocal of my opinions, worries and actions in the aspects of my everyday life. All in all, I just hope that large corporations and nations throughout the world will be held more accountable for their past, present and future ventures in regards to CO2 emissions and Climate Change.