[dewyattwanda]

How do I estimate the cost of my carbon footprint. Is there a specific formula?

[Capuchin]

carbon footprint calculator - Google Search

It's more of a fuzzy thing than there being a single strict formula.

[galactus]

First, try not to be programmed and indoctrinated by the propaganda spewed everyday from all angles about this 'sky-is-falling', global warming, hysteria.

[GoldieMae]

Depending on your height and weight, your carbon footprint will likely range from a 7 to 12. Mine's a 7, but I saw this really cute pair of Chanel's in a 7.5, so I upped it a bit with a padded insert.

Oh, and I read somewhere that I'm a carbon-based life form, so I'm probably contributing a good 135 pounds fully clothed.

[CaptainRich]

Take into consideration that this is still an evolving planet. I read that nearly 95% of everything that ever lived is now extinct.

Bear in mind, also, every one, every thing, that has ever lived, from the neanderthals to the politician, spent their entire lives here on this planet. When you add all the "begats" in Genisis, for example, the Earth has roughly 6000 years of just people trekking. We can't stop either evolution nor the population explosion any more than we could halt tectonic plate moving.

Medical science is aiding more births and keeping us alive longer. Maybe we should address that first.

You can get as green as you want, but you'll never turn back time.

[Capuchin]

You're right Rich, I don't believe that stopping all CO2 emissions right now would stop a large amount of the warming. The climate takes a long time to respond to changes. We can limit by stopping as much as we can, though.

I like your 95% fact. Did you know that 90% of scientists that have ever lived are still alive today? Perhaps that shows great hope for the future.

[CaptainRich]

Thank you, Cap!

I'm not suggesting that anyone be wasteful. That's foolhardy from a personal financial standpoint. If we brought it to peoples attention from that angle, perhaps more would be interested.

It's not commonly known that a little over a hundred years ago, when cars were coming into their own, there were more offered that were powered by battery, primitive as they were, than by fossil fuels. But when Henry made his developments, he chose a gasoline powered version... the rest is history.

And, yeah, we've got some brilliant minds looking to the future. Personally, I miss hearing Carl Sagan speak. He inspires my thinking, still.