In 2004, the “carbon footprint” campaign was announced and rapidly gained popularity, especially the Carbon Footprint Calculator. The Carbon Footprint Calculator was an equation that took data from your everyday life – from how much meat you ate to the car you owned – and spat out the number of carbon emissions you were directly responsible for. But what is often forgotten is that it was originally a propaganda campaign created by British Petroleum, or BP.
BP is one of the world’s largest carbon emitters, and they want you to think that climate change is all your fault. They blame the consumer, knowing you are powerless to change the situation, to shift the blame and prevent progress. John Kenney, the creator of the BP carbon footprint campaign in the UK, admitted it was all “just advertising.”
The campaign encouraged you to “take responsibility” for your carbon contribution, yet a footprint of zero was almost unattainable; MIT researchers concluded that even a homeless person in the US would still have a footprint of 8.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.
Furthermore, even if it was attainable, a low carbon footprint wouldn’t save the world. Despite some four billion people being in a state of lockdown due to the pandemic this year (limited driving, flying, etc.), May still saw the highest atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ever recorded. That is because just 100 corporations are responsible for 71% of emissions (CDP).
Although making efforts to reduce your individual carbon footprint won’t hurt, the best way to fight climate change is by holding companies accountable for their own emissions and environmental impact as well as advocating for beneficial legislation.
The key to reducing climate change lies in taking polluting corporations to task, not in your habits.
Written by Josie
Artwork by Sophia Patterson
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