The Carbon Footprint

The carbon footprint is the amount of gas emissions released into the atmosphere with a direct impact on the Earth’s climate; these emissions are caused by human activity. We produce them during most of our activities – during the consumption of fossil fuels in transport or the consumption of heat produced from coal or electricity.

In a slightly different definition, the carbon footprint is the amount of emitted greenhouse gases expressed in CO2 equivalents, where it is not only the weight of carbon itself, but also the resulting carbon dioxide and also emitted other greenhouse gases (methane, nitrous oxide, etc.) converted to the weight of CO2.

Carbon footprint of an individual, product, activity

We can talk about the carbon footprint of an individual, a product or an activity. It is most often used in connection with products as the sum of all greenhouse gases that were released during its production or vice versa – the production of which products has the least impact on the environment. It is basically an indicator of the environmental load, which is derived from the total ecological footprint.

The biggest carbon footprint producers

The largest producers of the carbon footprint, and thus also the largest polluters of the environment are considered to be:

• production of heat and energy (25%),
• agriculture, forestry and other land use (24%)
• industry (21%)
• transport (14%) – mostly road transport (70%), then air transport (13%), less ship transport and railway transport only 0.6%.

How can you reduce your carbon footprint:

• Transportation
  • If possible, replace the car with public transport or a bicycle.
  • Find out about the options for long-distance train connections.
  • Starting to walk everywhere is also one of the possibilities.
• Food and catering
  • Reducing the consumption of meat (beef) and increasing the proportion of vegetables, fruits, nuts and legumes.
  • When shopping, use your own bags and packaging for unpackaged food.
• Household
  • Start using LED sources for lightning.
  • Saving water during showering, teeth brushing.
• Clothing
  • Replace fast fashion with slow fashion, vintage or second hand.
•  Shopping
  • Ask yourself questions like: Do I really need this?
  • Usage of own bags.
  • Prefer second hand shops, exchanges.

Calculate your own carbon footprint here: https://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx

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