A feeling of powerlessness is understandable... but not inevitable
When you check your carbon footprint on a calculator such as Nos Gestes Climat, you may feel a certain **frustration **when it comes to the **"societal services" **item. Why am I being blamed for an impact over which I have no direct control?
Why this category does not depend on our direct individual actions
Unlike other categories (food, transport, heating), **societal services **encompass shared infrastructure: schools, hospitals, roads, public lighting, justice, etc. Their carbon footprint depends on public decisions, collective budgets and long-term policies.
The collective scale: an essential condition for transition
The ecological transition cannot rely solely on individual actions. Changing our diet or flying less is necessary, but not sufficient. To transform our society in a sustainable way, we must also act on a collective scale.
The role of public policy
Societal services are driven by public action. Renovating schools and public buildings, modernising transport networks: all of this depends not on individual choices but on political priorities.
Voting as an ecological lever
Voting means influencing budgetary, environmental and social policy. By choosing leaders who are committed to the transition, we can influence the carbon footprint of public services.
Why include this item in the individual footprint?
Even if it does not depend solely on us, this item reflects a shared reality: that of living in a collective system where the decisions of some have consequences for all. Integrating societal services into our footprint:
- **Makes their real weight visible **(often more than 1 tonne of CO₂e/year/person).
- Encourages collective action.
Conclusion – A shared responsibility for a carbon-free society
The "societal services" item sends a strong message: to change our impact, it is not enough to sort our waste or eat organic food. The good news is that everyone can contribute to this transformation. Through voting, engagement and mobilisation, we all have **a role to play **in the transition.
To find out more:
https://www.ge.ch/document/bilan-carbone-du-territoire-cantonal-resultats-encourageants