My carbon footprint reflects the politics of Australia as it shows that most Australians do not perceive their excessive carbon footprints as an issue. My carbon footprint was less of that of the average Australian, and I still travel by car and use multiple electronic devices. To have an average carbon footprint of 11,771kg/year, it shows that the average Australian has a complete disregard for the environment, probably due to the federal government’s laissez faire attitude to the environment. Another reason why the average Australians carbon footprint is higher than many other countries is due to Australia’s location. Australia is a very large country with very low population density. Due to its size and the lack of reliable public transport, many Australians use cars to drive, which increases their carbon footprint greatly. Australia has a fairly good economy compared to other countries, and as a result, many Australians are able to afford luxuries such as electronic devices, which consume a lot of electricity and contribute to their carbon footprint.

Something that changed my view on carbon emissions is when I visited Singapore. Due to the high tax rates on cars, most people use public transport in order to commute. Observing the reliable and efficient public transport in Singapore made me realise how unnecessary and damaging Australia’s reliance on cars is, and made me want to have a similar public transport system in Australia. What I found confusing to understand is how the Australian government has recognised that climate change is an issue, but refuses to implement any meaningful policies to mitigate Australia’s carbon emissions, placing the responsibilities on the Australian people.