Mississauga residents can gauge their carbon footprint in effort to help save environment

Mississauga residents who want to better understand what impact they’re having on the environment have a new online tool at their disposal to determine their carbon footprint. 

The City of Mississauga, in partnership with Project Neutral, a Toronto-based online group that seeks to educate people on their daily choices and how they impact the environment, has launched an online carbon footprint calculator for city residents. 

A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions that each person emits through their daily activities.  

By calculating their footprint, residents can better understand where their carbon emissions come from and what impact they have on the environment, City officials say, adding the calculator supports Mississauga’s Climate Change Action Plan by engaging residents in climate change action. 

Mississauga’s goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the city by 80 per cent by 2050, with a long-term aspirational goal of becoming a net-zero community. 

“As we move forward with our Climate Change Action Plan, it’s vital that we all take the necessary steps to modify our lifestyles to be more sustainable and reduce our negative impact on the environment,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “Consider choosing your bike over taking the car, shopping locally, travelling smart and making your home more energy efficient.” 

Crombie added that any action, no matter how seemingly small, helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

The Project Neutral carbon footprint calculator assesses your home energy usage, transportation habits, food patterns and waste generation, City officials say. It also provides a detailed breakdown of household climate impact, along with a comparison to other Ontario households. 

The City of Mississauga conducts a similar calculation each year and reports its carbon footprint to the Carbon Disclosure Project, a global initiative that tracks such information from municipalities. 

“Taking city-wide action on climate change means we need everyone to participate, from government to businesses and individuals,” said Dianne Zimmerman, the City’s environment manager. “Understanding where your carbon footprint comes from and how much greenhouse gas emissions are created from daily activities is crucial to taking action against climate change. This tool is the first step for all Mississauga residents to learn how they can make a positive difference and tackle climate change.”