Carbon footprint is a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide or CO₂ emitted through the combustion of fossil fuels; in the case of an organization, business or enterprise, as part of their everyday operations; in the case of an individual or household, as part of their daily lives; or a product or commodity in reaching market.

A carbon footprint is often expressed as tons of carbon dioxide or tons of carbon emitted, usually on a yearly basis. There are many versions of calculators available for carbon footprinting.

This is directly related to the amount of natural resources consumed, increasingly used or referred to as a measure of environmental impact. Carbon dioxide is recognized as a greenhouse gas, of which increasing levels in the atmosphere are linked to global warming and climate change.

Activities that affect the carbon footprint of individuals

The following activities affect the carbon footprint of individuals, according to the various calculators available:

• Car travel: depends on distance driven, fuel efficiency, and number of passengers per vehicle.
• Air travel: depends on distance and number of flights. Take-off and landing use large amounts of fuel, so two short flights produce more carbon than one long flight of comparative distance.
• Other motorised transport such as bus or train: normally counts for less per person than either car or air travel.
• Electricity use, if provided by non-renewable resources. Some calculators ask for figures from utility bills, while others estimate the amount from size of household and usage patterns (such as whether you leave equipment on standby overnight).
• Home heating: depends on fuel source and amount used.
• Food miles: how much food you buy from non-local sources.

See also

• List of countries by carbon dioxide emissions per capita
• Global warming
• Ecological footprint
• Kyoto protocol
• Energy policy
• Telecommuting
• Green conventions, meetings & events

External links

• Calculate your carbon footprint and then reduce it
• Calculate your personal carbon footprint
• BBC Ethical man - Ways to reduce carbon footprint
• Real Carbon Footprint(Junkscience.com)

Sustainability