Tracking the Carbon Footprint of Outdoor Recreation Programs: A Case Study of Texas Tech University's Outdoor Pursuits Center

Authors

  • Jenny D Lloyd-Strovas Texas Tech University
  • Katharine Hayhoe Texas Tech University

Keywords:

carbon footprint, climate change, emissions, outdoor recreation

Abstract

Outdoor leaders are already sensitive to the ethics of immediate actions

related to use and care of wilderness areas. Considering the impact

of our activities on global climate, however, requires an entirely

new paradigm of thinking; one that considers the long-term and often

invisible implications of our choices. Here, we develop a generalizable

methodology to quantify the greenhouse gas emissions associated

with food consumption and transportation from outdoor recreation

trips. We then apply this method to estimate the average carbon footprint

for trips conducted by the Outdoor Pursuits Center at Texas

Tech University (TTU) to total 94kg CO2eq per person, approximately

one half to one third the emissions incurred by a typical student's

weekend trip home. Finally, we evaluate potential strategies to

mitigate those emissions including adjusting trip menus to include

less carbon-intensive and more local food items, traveling to closer

locations, and purchasing carbon offsets.

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Issue

Vol. 1 No. 2 (2009)

Section

Regular Papers

License

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