Towards a ‘Personalized’
Green Lifestyle

Since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th Century, human activities have resulted in the emission of large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. These gases are continuing to accumulate in the atmosphere and the ocean, intensifying the greenhouse effect and resulting in global warming. Greenhouse gas emissions pose a major threat to our planet. Have you ever thought about the amount of greenhouse gas emissions yourself produce in your daily life?

The ‘Personal Carbon Footprint’ shows the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions individuals generate in their daily lives. The unit of measurement used is the ‘carbon dioxide equivalent’ (CO₂-e).¹ The more your emissions, the larger the carbon footprint you leave. According to the HKSAR Government’s Environmental Protection Department, the average amount of carbon emissions per person was 5.7 tonnes in 2015,² meaning that each Hong Kong resident emits around 110 kg of CO₂-e per week.

Using the ‘Action Monitor’ Online Platform created by the Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, you can calculate your personal carbon footprint. Once you register as a ‘Green Buddy’ and enter your weekly living information on the Platform, your personal carbon emission data on diet, transportation, consumables, shopping, electricity usage and water usage will be listed out. With these data, you can review your lifestyle and formulate suitable carbon reduction targets.

The ‘Action Monitor’ Platform also encourages all ‘Green Buddies’ to practise a low carbon lifestyle in five different ‘Green Action’ categories, including Carbon Monitor, Environmental Awareness, Biodiversity Conservation, Resource Conservation and Sustainable Living. ‘Green Buddies’ can obtain an in-depth understanding of climate change and sustainable development through attending activities held by the Museum, such as eco-tours, workshops and themed exhibitions (please refer to the ‘What’s New’ section on the Platform for further information on these activities). These activities can also help ‘Green Buddies’ to complete actions in the five categories. The Platform encourages participants to change their lifestyle and adopt a low carbon way of life permanently, and discourages them from relapsing after the end of a particular event.

While practising a low carbon lifestyle, you can also conveniently browse our ‘Sustainability Hub’, the Museum’s one-stop information platform, to obtain the latest information on environmental protection, climate change and sustainable development. The Hub conveniently presents a range of information, including local and international news and reports, videos and computer games, so that environmental issues can be learnt in an easy and interesting way. Educational materials and related links are also provided, to help teachers to bring the message on alleviating climate change into the classroom.

Besides joining the ‘Action Monitor’ Platform as an individual participant, ‘Green Buddies’ can also invite their school or organization to enrol as a ‘Green Team’, mobilizing the strength of the community to bring green culture into the school or workplace. You can browse and share green and carbon reduction experiences on ‘Green Feed’, and learn alongside other individuals and groups with a similar vision. In the struggle against the threat of climate change, many small steps add up to one giant leap!