What is a Carbon Footprint?
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Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the Earth’s most abundant greenhouse gas and is emitted into the atmosphere when we burn fossil fuels for energy, manufacturing and transportation. This additional carbon in our atmosphere traps the heat from the sun and causes global warming. Higher temperatures create an imbalance in the eco-system of the ocean, which is the lifeblood of our planet.
A carbon footprint is an estimate of the amount of greenhouse gases produced by a person’s daily activities. A carbon footprint is the sum of two parts- the primary footprint and the secondary footprint. The primary footprint is a measure of our direct emissions from the burning of fossil fuels including energy consumption and transportation. The secondary footprint is the measure of the indirect emissions from the entire lifecycle of the products we use- those associated with their manufacture and eventual breakdown. Calculating your carbon footprint will give you an idea of how your lifestyle choices contribute to global warming.