Most people have heard the term "carbon footprint," but few have actually calculated it. Take your project as an opportunity to calculate the carbon footprint of your school by measuring the amount your school contributes to emissions each year. Use an online calculator (see Resources). This will require you to research many facts about how your school runs, including whether your school's heaters run on timers, whether its heating pipes are insulated and what kinds of light bulbs it uses. Once you have finished your calculations, come up with a list of recommendations for reducing your school's emissions.
Identify the many emitters of carbon gases in any city or town. Make it your project to find out which is the biggest emitter in your jurisdiction. Do research online or talk to local environmentalists to narrow it down to a few different locations. You might find some of the biggest emitters are not individual factories but aggregated factors, such as car driving. Once you have identified the biggest polluter, come up with suggestions for it to become greener. Write a letter to the industry or government with your suggestions.
Many people don't understand how air pollution contributes to global warming and other harmful conditions. Do a scientific project that seeks to understand the greenhouse effect, the process by which emissions slowly heat the atmosphere. Make a chart or picture to explain the process to your classmates and teacher. In addition, research the other effects of carbon emissions, such as elevated rates of asthma, lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses.
Government and industry are always looking for greener ways to provide energy. Do a comparison of a few different models of alternative energy and oil extraction. Evaluate the costs and benefits of carbon capture, in which industry traps carbon emissions before they get into the atmosphere. Research whether wind and solar energy are as environmentally beneficial as they seem and if they can provide enough energy to meet humanity's needs.