What does 'carbon footprint' mean?

Neil: Welcome back, Feifei! Good holiday?

Feifei: The best, Neil! We flew to Mexico,

then up to California,

and then drove all

the way across the States

from LA to New York.

Neil: Incredible. All in one week?

Feifei: Yes. It's just that...

Neil: What?

Feifei: I can't help thinking...

all that travelling can't be great

for the environment.

Neil: I know. You must have

a pretty big carbon footprint right now.

Feifei: Enormous.

Neil: Let's take a moment to explain this

phrase 'carbon footprint'. Then plan what

to do about it.

Feifei: Carbon dioxide is a gas

that contributes to climate change.

Neil: And your 'carbon footprint' is

the amount of carbon dioxide

you produce through your

activities - things like how much

electricity you use...

Feifei: How much oil and gas you use...

Neil: What you eat is another factor. And

of course your trips by car, plane and so on...

Feifei: If you take a lot of flights,

then you have a large carbon footprint!

Like me.

Neil: And me. And the people

in these examples.

I used the air conditioning non-stop

all summer. My carbon footprint

must be huge.

Martina has the highest carbon footprint

of all her colleagues.

She drives everywhere,

flies every weekend, and eats nothing

but red meat.

I downloaded an app to calculate

my carbon footprint. The results

are pretty shocking.

Feifei: You're listening to The English

We Speak from BBC Learning English.

The expression we're looking at

in this programme is 'carbon footprint'.

OK, we've heard the examples.

And Neil, I have a plan. It's time

to reduce my footprint.

Neil: Great. That's the verb we normally

use: reduce. We talk about reducing

our carbon footprint, by changing

the way we live. So, what's the plan?

Feifei: I'm going to cycle to work, use less

heating in winter, and...

I've got these new shoes.

Neil: Great. But, shoes?

Feifei: They're made of recycled plastic.

Fantastic, aren't they?

Neil: Well, that's one way to reduce

your footprint!

Feifei: I even brought you a pair -

a little present from my trip LA.

Neil: You're so kind. I can wear them when

I'm in Tokyo this weekend. And Paris next

week. Oh, and Iceland tomorrow.

Only kidding!

Feifei: Yes, I want to hear your plan

to reduce your carbon footprint, Neil!

Both: Bye.