---
title: "Watch — how big is your carbon footprint?"
description: "Does recycling actually do anything? What about carbon offsets? Did you know that the average person’s carbon footprint is about 6.5 tons, but the average American’s footprint is double that? Meteorologist Alexandra Steele talks to the experts to get answers about what actually helps the planet — and what doesn’t."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "YALE CLIMATE CONNECTIONS"
author: "Yale Climate Connections"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/yaleclimate/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-04-16-watch-how-big-is-your-carbon-footprint/"
published: "2024-04-16T20:40:37"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 36
---

# Watch — how big is your carbon footprint?

> Does recycling actually do anything? What about carbon offsets? Did you know that the average person’s carbon footprint is about 6.5 tons, but the average American’s footprint is double that? Meteorologist Alexandra Steele talks to the experts to get answers about what actually helps the planet — and what doesn’t.

By Yale Climate Connections · Published 16 April 2024, 22:40 SAST

## Key points
- Find out how much of a climate culprit you really are by using either the CoolClimate or Nature Conservancy calculators, as featured in this informative piece from Yale Climate Connections.
- Calculate your carbon footprint using online tools like CoolClimate Calculator and The Nature Conservancy Calculator
- Watch this informative video on understanding and reducing your carbon footprint: https://youtu.be/9hjt1to0BZw
- Learn more about climate change and environmental impact through global journalism collaboration Covering Climate Now
- Yale Climate Connections article provides valuable insights on tackling climate change

## Content

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hjt1to0BZw)

You can calculate your carbon footprint by using the links below:

[CoolClimate Calculator](https://coolclimate.berkeley.edu/calculator)

[The Nature Conservancy Calculator](https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/carbon-footprint-calculator/)

*This article by*[*Yale Climate Connections*](https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2024/04/how-big-is-your-carbon-footprint/)*is published here as part of the global journalism collaboration Covering Climate Now.*