I used the International Student Challenge Carbon Footprint Challenge to calculate my carbon footprint. I have already taken this test for a previous project, but the results were just as shocking as the first time around. I am responsible for emitting more than 3.9 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, which has made me rethink my habits. After taking the test I discovered that some of my habits are extremely harmful to the planet, such as taking showers every day. By showering daily I'm releasing 1.4 tons of carbon into the atmosphere. On the other hand, I noticed that by reducing meat consumption, even though harmful, causes less damage to the environment than showering every day. 

      Living in a big city like São Paulo makes it harder to be eco-friendly, and  I consider that the most challenging change that São Paulo's citizens face is related to transportation. The precarious public transportation system forces people to drive their own cars, which increases the number of vehicles on the streets. My mother, for example, before the quarantine used her car to go to work every day, and as a result, consumed 30L of gas every week. That is the problem of São Paulo, people have to use cars for almost everything, or use the crowded public transportation system. 

       I think my school is already taking action to reduce its carbon footprint. Some projects that were implemented are already working, for example, part of the school's energy is provided by solar panels, all organic food is composted and turned into fertilizer for the school's vegetable garden. Also, last year, Magno made an agreement with a local farmer, who uses the school’s natural fertilizer in exchange for a lower price on his organic vegetables. In addition to these examples, many other projects are being developed, such as biodigesters, which provide natural gas, used to warm water used in baby's baths in the school nursery. 

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