Carbon Footprinting
Climate change and its negative consequences are fast becoming a priority concern for many in government and business, as well as the general public. It is generally recognised that climate change results, at least partly, from the accumulation of carbon dioxide (CO2) - as well as other so-called 'greenhouse gases' - in the atmosphere. To fight this accumulation, there are hints of carbon taxes or carbon-rationing, and we are all urged to 'reduce our carbon footprint'.
'Carbon Footprint': the Basics
It is an analogy to represent the amount of climate change emissions ('greenhouse gases') resulting from an activity; it is measured in CO2 tonnes equivalent, because CO2 is the best-known, most common of the greenhouse gases. CO2 production - i.e. the creation of a 'carbon footprint' - results mostly from the combustion of fossil fuels. This means that wherever fossil-fuel energy is (or has been) used, there is a carbon footprint.
Other potent greenhouse gases (methane CH4,nitrous oxide N2O, perfluorocarbons PFCs, sulphur hexafluoride SF6 and hydrofluorocarbons HFCs), also included in calculating carbon footprints, come from agricultural and industrial activities.
Measuring Carbon Footprints
Measuring carbon footprints - or 'carbon footprinting' - calculates the climate change impact of an activity, in CO2 tonnes equivalent. Carbon footprints are commonly calculated for products or organisations: in either case, life cycle assessment techniques are used to incorporate both 'direct' emissions (those resulting from the activity itself) and 'indirect' emissions (those resulting from upstream - or upstream and downstream - activities).
As established LCA practitioners, EuGeos can not only help you to quantify the greenhouse gas emissions associated with your operations, products or transport systems, we also ensure that you understand what the resulting numbers mean.
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