Carbon footprint | Definition, Examples, Calculation, Effects, & Facts

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sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref289825"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/science/carbon-footprint#ref289825">Carbon footprint reduction</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-footprint/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/carbon-footprint">Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-footprint/images-videos">Videos</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a 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PubMed Central - Carbon Footprint Research Based on Input–Output Model—A Global Scientometric Visualization Analysis</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.footprintnetwork.org/our-work/climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Global Footprint Network - Climate Change: Carbon Footprint</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/82103364.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">CORE - Carbon Footprint Analysis: Towards a Projects Evaluation Model for Promoting Sustainable Development</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/climate-solutions/carbon-footprint" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">UCAR - Center for Science Education - What's Your Carbon Footprint?</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://css.umich.edu/publications/factsheets/sustainability-indicators/carbon-footprint-factsheet" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">University of Michigan - Center for Sustainable Systems - Carbon Footprint Factsheet</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www3.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Environmental Protecion Agency - Carbon Footprint Calculator</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/es803496a" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">ACS Publications - Carbon Footprint of Nations: A Global, Trade-Linked Analysis</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/CO2_footprint" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Energy Education - CO2 footprint</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.academia.edu/21314703/CARBON_FOOTPRINT" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Academia - Carbon Footprint</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/environmental-science/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1237763/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Frontiers - Frontiers in Environmental Science - Methodological introduction to the carbon footprint evaluation of intermodal transport</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Noelle-Eckley-Selin/6483" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Noelle Eckley Selin</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Associate Professor of Engineering Systems and Atmospheric Chemistry, Engineering Systems Division and Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Noelle Eckley Selin</span></div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-11-25T00:00:00CST" >Nov 25, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-footprint/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Related Topics: </dt> <dd><a href="/science/carbon-dioxide" topicid="94900">carbon dioxide</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/carbon-footprint"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/how-big-fossil-fuel-producing-countries-export-emissions-abroad-2024-11-23/" rel="nofollow">How big fossil-fuel-producing countries export emissions abroad</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 22, 2024, 10:30 PM ET (Reuters) </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref1060721"></span>carbon footprint</strong>, amount of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-dioxide" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">carbon dioxide</a> (CO<sub>2</sub>) emissions associated with all the activities of a person or other <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="entity" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/entity" data-type="EB">entity</a> (e.g., building, corporation, country, etc.). It includes direct emissions, such as those that result from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/fossil-fuel" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">fossil-fuel</a> combustion in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/manufacturing" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">manufacturing</a>, heating, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/transportation-technology" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">transportation</a>, as well as emissions required to produce the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/electricity" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">electricity</a> associated with goods and services consumed. In addition, the carbon footprint concept also often includes the emissions of other <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/greenhouse-gas" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">greenhouse gases</a>, such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/methane" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">methane</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/nitrous-oxide" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">nitrous oxide</a>, or <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/chlorofluorocarbon" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">chlorofluorocarbons</a> (CFCs).</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The carbon footprint concept is related to and grew out of the older idea of <span id="ref1082096"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/ecological-footprint" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">ecological footprint</a>, a concept invented in the early 1990s by Canadian ecologist <span id="ref1082097"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Rees" class="md-crosslink ">William Rees</a> and Swiss-born regional planner <span id="ref1082099"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mathis-Wackernagel" class="md-crosslink ">Mathis Wackernagel</a> at the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/University-of-British-Columbia" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">University of British Columbia</a>. An ecological footprint is the total area of land required to <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="sustain" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/sustain" data-type="EB">sustain</a> an activity or <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/population-biology-and-anthropology" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">population</a>. It includes environmental impacts, such as water use and the amount of land used for <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/food" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">food</a> production. In contrast, a carbon footprint is usually expressed as a measure of weight, as in tons of <span id="ref1082103"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-dioxide" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">CO</a><sub>2</sub> or CO<sub>2</sub> equivalent per year.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span></section><span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref289824"><h2 class="h1">Carbon footprint calculation</h2><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Carbon footprints are different from a country’s reported per capita emissions (for example, those reported under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). Rather than the greenhouse gas emissions associated with production, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-chemical-element" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">carbon</a> footprints focus on the greenhouse gas emissions associated with <span id="ref1082118"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/consumption" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">consumption</a>. They include the emissions associated with goods that are imported into a country but are produced elsewhere and generally take into account emissions associated with international transport and shipping, which is not accounted for in standard national inventories. As a result, a country’s carbon footprint can increase even as carbon emissions within its borders decrease.</p><div class="module-spacing"> </div><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The per capita carbon footprint is highest in the <span id="ref1082119"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United States</a>. According to the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-Nations-Development-Programme" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United Nations Development Programme</a>, in 2004 the average resident of the United States had a per capita carbon footprint of 20.6 metric tons (22.7 short tons) of CO<sub>2</sub> equivalent, some five to seven times the global average. Averages vary greatly around the world, with higher footprints generally found in residents of developed countries. For example, that same year <span id="ref1082121"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/France" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">France</a> had a per capita carbon footprint of 6.0 metric tons (6.6 short tons), whereas <span id="ref1082122"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Brazil" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Brazil</a> and Tanzania had carbon footprints of 1.8 metric tons (about 2 short tons) and 0.1 metric ton (0.1 short ton) of CO<sub>2</sub> equivalent, respectively.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In <span id="ref1082123"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/industrial-country" class="md-crosslink ">developed countries</a>, <span id="ref1082156"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/transportation-technology" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">transportation</a> and household <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/energy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">energy</a> use make up the largest component of an individual’s carbon footprint. For example, approximately 40 percent of total emissions in the United States during the first decade of the 21st century were from those sources. Such emissions are included as part of an individual’s <span id="ref1082124"></span>“primary” carbon footprint, representing the emissions over which an individual has direct control. The remainder of an individual’s carbon footprint is called the <span id="ref1082125"></span>“secondary” carbon footprint, representing carbon emissions associated with the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="consumption" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consumption" data-type="MW">consumption</a> of goods and services. The secondary footprint includes carbon emissions emitted by food production. It can be used to account for diets that contain higher proportions of meat, which requires a greater amount of energy and nutrients to produce than vegetables and grains, and foods that have been transported long distances. The manufacturing and <span id="ref1082157"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/transportation-technology" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">transportation</a> of consumer goods are additional contributors to the secondary carbon footprint. For example, the carbon footprint of a bottle of water includes the CO<sub>2</sub> or CO<sub>2</sub> equivalent emitted during the manufacture of the bottle itself plus the amount emitted during the transportation of the bottle to the consumer.</p><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">A variety of different tools exist for calculating the carbon footprints for individuals, businesses, and other organizations. Commonly used <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="methodologies" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/methodologies" data-type="MW">methodologies</a> for calculating organizational carbon footprints include the Greenhouse Gas <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="Protocol" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Protocol" data-type="MW">Protocol</a>, from the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/World-Resources-Institute" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World Resources Institute</a> and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and ISO 14064, a standard developed by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/International-Organization-for-Standardization" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">International Organization for Standardization</a> dealing specifically with greenhouse gas emissions. Several organizations, such as the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Environmental-Protection-Agency" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">U.S. Environmental Protection Agency</a>, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nature-Conservancy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Nature Conservancy</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/BP-PLC" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">British Petroleum</a>, created carbon calculators on the Internet for individuals. Such calculators allow people to compare their own estimated carbon footprints with the national and world averages.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span></section><span class="marker h3"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref289825"><h2 class="h1">Carbon footprint reduction</h2><span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Individuals and corporations can take a number of steps to reduce their carbon footprints and thus contribute to global climate mitigation. They can purchase <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/carbon-offset" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">carbon offsets</a> (broadly stated, an investment in a carbon-reducing activity or technology) to compensate for part or all of their carbon footprint. If they purchase enough to offset their carbon footprint, they become effectively carbon neutral.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=august-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Carbon footprints can be reduced through improving energy <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="efficiency" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/efficiency" data-type="MW">efficiency</a> and changing lifestyles and purchasing habits. Switching one’s energy and <span id="ref1082158"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/transportation-technology" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">transportation</a> use can have an impact on primary carbon footprints. For example, using <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/mass-transit" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">public transportation</a>, such as buses and trains, reduces an individual’s carbon footprint when compared with driving. Individuals and corporations can reduce their respective carbon footprints by installing energy-efficient lighting, adding insulation in buildings, or using <span id="ref1082159"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/renewable-energy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">renewable energy</a> sources to generate the electricity they require. For example, electricity generation from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/wind-power" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">wind power</a> produces no direct carbon emissions. Additional lifestyle choices that can lower an individual’s secondary carbon footprint include reducing one’s consumption of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/meat" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">meat</a> and switching one’s purchasing habits to products that require fewer carbon emissions to produce and transport.</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span><span class="md-signature"><a href="/contributor/Noelle-Eckley-Selin/6483">Noelle Eckley Selin</a></span></section><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":1585219,"pageLength":863,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.38"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.38' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"A","adLeg":"A","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"MEDIUM","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Carbon footprint | Definition, Examples, Calculation, Effects, & Facts | Britannica