This week’s posts were about understanding where our ecological footprints come from. To get started, I strongly encourage everyone to take this quick and simple test to see where you stand. 

The checklist

1. Food
   • Animal products are the major source of ecological destruction and a plant-dominated diet is highly recommended. 
   • Other influential factors include the amount of food you buy, the distance your food needs to travel to you, the amount of packaging it needs, and its impact on your health. 
2. Home
   • The size and type of your home is the main factor, with smaller apartments being much greener than large homes.
   • In most countries, heating and cooling offer the greatest potential for cutting your home footprint.
3.  Transportation
   • The daily commute from a large home in the suburbs has a very large footprint, particularly if done in a big SUV or truck with only one or two occupants. Your air travel footprint also quickly adds up.
   • Public transport (particularly trains) is better, while virtual mobility and walking/cycling are by far the best options. 
4. Stuff
   • Our high stuff turnover rate resulting from planned and perceived obsolescence creates great ecological damage. 
   • Solutions include, in order of usefulness, embracing creativity, simplifying life, and committing to always purchasing high quality. 

The ecological footprint of individuals is a central moral issue in our society. The reason for this is that those suffering the most are not those causing the damage. And the main factor determining whether you are causing the damage or experiencing it is the lottery of birth. 

Do the only morally correct thing. Shrink your ecological footprint.