What is carbon footprint?

What is carbon footprint?

carbon footprint

adjective

the amount of carbon dioxide emitted due to the the consumption of fossil fuels by a particular person, group, etc.

Reference : Mac dictionary

The pie chart above shows the main elements which make up the total of an typical person's carbon footprint in the developed world.

A carbon footprint is made up of the sum of two parts, the primary footprint (shown by the green slices of the pie chart) and the secondary footprint (shown as the yellow slices).

1. The primary footprint is a measure of our direct emissions of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels including domestic energy consumption and transportation (e.g. car and plane). We have direct control of these.

2. The secondary footprint is a measure of the indirect CO2 emissions from the whole lifecycle of products we use - those associated with their manufacture and eventual breakdown. To put it very simply – the more we buy the more emissions will be caused on our behalf.

Quote: http://www.carbonfootprint.com/carbonfootprint.html

I found that a carbon footprint is the effect on the environment when we (humans) use fossil fuels to heat and light our homes and transport us from A to B. It measures the greenhouse gases that we produce and is measured in tonnes.