Carbon footprint

An individual's, event's, organization's, service's, location's, or product's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are referred to as their "carbon footprint," and they are measured in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). Burning fossil fuels, clearing land, and the production and consumption of food, manufactured goods, materials, wood, roads, buildings, transportation, and other services can all contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases, including the carbon-containing gases carbon dioxide and methane. Greenhouse gases can also be produced when land is cleared of vegetation.

Because of insufficient data regarding the intricate interactions between the systems that contribute, the overall carbon footprint cannot be precisely determined in the majority of instances. This includes the effect of natural processes that either store or release carbon dioxide.

In 2014, the yearly average carbon footprint left by each individual on the planet was around 5 tonnes of CO2e. The Nature Conservancy believes that the average carbon footprint for a citizen of the United States is 16 tonnes, even though there are several different techniques to measure a carbon footprint. This is one of the highest rates anywhere in the world, and it has led to the creation of new rules that aim to limit our carbon impact. According to estimates made by academics, New York City will be able to eradicate the carbon footprint left by its buildings by the year 2050. According to documents from the city and national statistics, the elimination of carbon emissions from municipal district heating is a significant measure that is directly controlled by New York. These emissions may account for up to thirty percent of New York city's reported carbon emissions and fifty-eight percent of the carbon emissions related to energy.

The oil producer BP hired Ogilvy to develop an "effective propaganda" campaign to shift responsibility for pollution that causes climate change away from the corporations and institutions that created a society in which carbon emissions are unavoidable and onto personal lifestyle choices. This led to the development of the use of household carbon footprint calculators, which was the first step in the development of this concept. Additionally, BP is credited for popularising the phrase "carbon footprint."