Carbon Footprint Definition

A carbon footprint, also sometimes called a carbon profile, is a measure of the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions (including carbon dioxide and other gases like methane) that are produced by an individual, event, organization, service, or product.

Carbon footprints are often divided into ‘direct’ and ‘indirect’ emissions. Direct emissions are those that come from the burning of fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal. These activities release greenhouse gases directly into the atmosphere. Indirect emissions are those that come from other sources, such as the production of electricity (which may use fossil fuels) or from the manufacturing of products (which may use electricity or other energy sources).

The size of someone’s carbon footprint can depend on many factors, including their lifestyle choices (e.g., how much they travel), their diet (e.g., whether they eat meat or not), and the type of housing they live in (e.g., whether it is energy efficient). There are many ways to reduce your carbon footprint, such as using public transportation instead of driving, eating less meat, and recycling.