Carbon Footprint

CARBON FOOTPRINT

by Antonio C. Antonio

August 13, 2014

To understand carbon footprint, let us first dwell in its many definitions and the intricate process by which carbon footprinting is done.  Carbon footprint was originally called “ecological footprint”.  As an indicator of unsustainable energy use, the term “carbon footprint” was deemed to be more relevant than “ecological footprint”.  It is important, however, to note that both terms are measures of gas emission that largely contributes to climate change.

Carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide or carbon compounds emitted into the atmosphere by the activities of an individual, company or country.  Historically, however, carbon footprint is defined as “the total sets of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an organization, event, product or person”.  “Greenhouse gases (GHGs) can be emitted through transportation, land clearance, and the production and consumption of food, fuels, manufactured goods, materials, wood, road, buildings, and services.  For simplicity of reporting, it is often expressed in terms of amount of carbon dioxide, or its equivalent of other GHGs, emitted.” (Wikipedia)

Carbon footprinting is a distinct process which involves complex calculations.  The large quantity of data required to calculate human and industrial activities makes carbon footprinting a long process.  The fact that carbon dioxide is also caused by natural occurrences makes segregating natural from human/industrial causes very tedious.  Carbon footprint, however, refers particularly to human and industrial causes.  Measuring carbon footprints is a process also called “carbon accounting”.

A more practicable definition of carbon footprint is: “A measure of the total amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) emissions of a defined population, system or activity, considering all relevant sources, sinks and storage within the spatial and temporal boundary of the population, system or activity of interest.  Calculated as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) using relevant 100-year global warming potential (GWP100). (Wright, Kemp and Williams; Carbon Management journal)

This is not to say that the United States is largely to blame for the relatively high level of man-made carbon footprint.  “The average U.S. household carbon footprint is about 50 tons CO₂e per year.  The single largest source of emissions for the typical household is from driving (gasoline use).  Transportation as a whole (driving, flying & small amount from public transit) is the largest overall category, followed by housing (electricity, natural gas, waste, construction) then food (mostly from red meat, dairy and seafood products, but also includes emissions from all other food), then goods followed lastly by services.  The carbon footprint of the U.S. is about 5 times greater than the global average, which is approximately 10 tons CO₂e per household per year.  For most U.S. households, the single most important action to reduce their carbon footprint is driving less or switching to a more efficient vehicle.”  (Wikipedia)

Perhaps the more relevant question to ask at this point is: “How can carbon footprints be mitigated?”  The mitigation of carbon footprints may be done through the introduction of non-gas emitting sources of energy and power such as solar, wind and hydro-related.  Reforestation is also a major mitigation strategy.  Negating carbon footprints is often called “carbon offsetting”.  It is also comforting to note that many studies are now being conducted that are aimed at discovering other carbon offsetting measures to minimize anthropogenic carbon footprint.

Just my little thoughts…

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