Reflective Analysis: Personal Carbon Footprint and Sustainability

This reflective essay analyzes a student's carbon footprint, assessed through an online survey from Futurefit.nz. The student was surprised by their low score of 0.5, attributing it to minimal use of transport, vegetarian diet, and low power consumption. The essay discusses factors contributing to the score, potential for improvement through reduced car usage and a vegan diet, and the importance of individual contributions to sustainability. The student believes sustainability is achievable through collective efforts, changes in transportation, energy consumption, and dietary habits. The essay also touches upon the balance between consumption and sustainability, and the survey's effective design. The student concludes with a commitment to minimizing their carbon emissions and contributing to a sustainable future, supported by references to relevant literature on sustainability and carbon emission reduction.

Running head: REFLECTIVE
REFLECTIVE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1REFLECTIVE
Introduction
The primary aim of this online survey was to understand the carbon Footprint which I
leave behind in the world. The quiz has been taken from futurefit.nz which is online website
providing adequate information about the manner in which the different individuals along with
their family sustain in the ecology and to what extend their overall activities have an impact on
the same. Hence, this reflection will discuss about my overall view on the score I received after
undertaking the test and the future actions which I intend to take in the future to minimize my
score in the long run.
Discussion
Did your score surprise you? Why or why not?
Yes, I was indeed very surprised to check my score. This is because I was under the
belief that I tend to emit and leave behind a considerable amount of carbon foot print but in
reality this is not the case. My score was 0.5 which was very low as compared to a citizen of
New Zealand or a citizen of the world. Hence, I am quite surprised by my emission. The reason
why I am surprised is because I did not expect that my score would be this low. I was under the
belief that, as a student I would be generating a higher amount of emission but to my surprise my
ritual of walking to places and the minimum use of cars and cabs has been quite fruitful.
What are the factors that have mostly contributed to your score? Why is this so?
According to my analysis, the factor which has contributed quite extensively to my low
score can be stated to be my minimum use of Transport, power and Food habits. I generally walk
and reach places like a grocery store, college and other places which thereby encourage me to
make minimum use of the transportation mediums. In addition to this, my food habits are also
very limited whereby I have a vegetarian diet which thereby minimizes my influence on the use
of the red meat. In connection to this, I make minimum use of power consumption at home
whereby I do not engage in any heating devices and this is the reason why my score is this low.
Do you think it would be possible to improve your score? Why or why not?

2REFLECTIVE
Yes I am under the belief that, it is possible to further improve my score. This is because;
at present I am not engaging in two activities. I still make use of car and cabs while travelling. If
I manage my time appropriately, I would be able to ensure that I do not engage in petrol
emissions and this would further contribute to improving my score. In addition to this, I can opt
for a vegan diet. In dire times like the world is experiencing today, it is critical to mention that if
I will be able to contribute a bit more, I can make a difference. Moreover, we do not engage in
any kind of composting activity which will help in ensuring that we are being able to emit less
carbon.
Do you think sustainability will ever be possible? Why or why not?
Yes, as per my belief, sustainability as a concept will be possible if the entire population
decides to contribute towards ensuring the initiatives which have to be taken. In association with
this, it becomes critical to state that if adequate initiatives are taken by all and transportation
rituals are changed along with heating devises and food composition practices are implemented
then, the sustainability can be achieved. I believe that, the sustainability as a concept can be
mentioned to be a critical component as it assists in ensuring that, the future generations will be
able to take advantage of the resources along with the present generation. Hence, power
consumption, living style, food habits and the Transport activities have to be revolutionaries to
achieve sustainability.
How might our consumption limit our commitment to full sustainability?
The balance between the consumption and the commitment to full sustainability is a
difficult one as the consumption needs of all individuals is an important aspect which has to be
met with by all the employees as present. In association with this, it is critical to state that it
becomes very important to ensure that the different individuals will be able to maintain adequate
balance and fulfill their consumption needs along with being fully committed to the
sustainability aspects as well.
Any other aspects of this entire exercise

3REFLECTIVE
Another aspect which I would like to state was very noteworthy can be mentioned to be
the fact that, the questions were framed very well in an impersonal manner. In association with
this, it is effective to state that, crucial information was undertaken by the survey but the design
was very interactive and all privacy aspects were maintained adequately.
Conclusion
Hence, this survey was a learning experience which adequately contributed towards
understanding the manner in which I am being able to maintain the carbon emission and take a
step towards sustainability.

4REFLECTIVE
Bibliography
Clayton, T., & Radcliffe, N. (2018). Sustainability: a systems approach. Routledge.
Futurefit.nz (2020). Sustainability [online]. Available at: https://futurefit.nz/user/dashboard/set-
data (Retrieved on: 17 Mar.2020).
Huisingh, D., Zhang, Z., Moore, J. C., Qiao, Q., & Li, Q. (2015). Recent advances in carbon
emissions reduction: policies, technologies, monitoring, assessment and
modeling. Journal of Cleaner Production, 103, 1-12.
Liu, J., Mooney, H., Hull, V., Davis, S. J., Gaskell, J., Hertel, T., ... & Li, S. (2015). Systems
integration for global sustainability. Science, 347(6225), 1258832.
Solow, R. M. (2019). 25. Sustainability: an economist’s perspective. Economics of the
environment: Selected readings.
Voß, J. P., & Kemp, R. (2015). Sustainability and reflexive governance: introduction.
Technische Universität Berlin.

5REFLECTIVE
Appendix
The results
1.