Carbon Footprint

What is a carbon footprint?

The total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by a person, product, event or activity, expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent.

What is carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e)?

A measure that expresses the warming impact of different greenhouse gases as an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide.

Why is CO₂e used?

Different greenhouse gases have different warming effects.

What activities contribute to a person's carbon footprint?

Transport, energy use, food consumption and purchasing goods or services.

How does driving a petrol or diesel vehicle affect carbon footprint?

Burning fuel releases carbon dioxide.

How does flying contribute to carbon footprint?

Aircraft burn fuel and release greenhouse gases.

How does electricity use affect carbon footprint?

Its impact depends on how the electricity is generated.

Why do manufactured products have carbon footprints?

Their raw material extraction, manufacture, transport and disposal can produce emissions.

How can renewable electricity reduce carbon footprints?

It can reduce the need for fossil fuel combustion.

How can improving energy efficiency reduce emissions?

It reduces the energy required for the same service.

How can reducing waste lower a carbon footprint?

It can reduce emissions from production and disposal.

Why can recycling reduce emissions?

It can reduce the need for extracting and processing new raw materials.

What is one limitation of carbon footprint calculations?

They rely on estimates and assumptions about indirect emissions.

Why is it difficult to calculate an exact carbon footprint?

Products and activities involve complex supply chains and varying energy sources.

Why can carbon footprints be useful?

They help identify major sources of greenhouse gas emissions.