What is the carbon footprint?

We use electricity, are mobile, and heat our homes - this generates emissions that affect our atmosphere and burden the climate. These emissions can be calculated and expressed in CO2 equivalents. Methane, for example, is another gas besides CO2 that is released in excessive quantities by human activity. 1 gram of methane is about 25 times more climate-impacting than 1 gram of CO2. Therefore, 1 gram of methane is equivalent to 25 gram of CO2.

The carbon footprint summarizes all emissions of a specific entity, e.g. a person, institution or product.

However, emissions are not only released when we actually fly on a plane or purchase a new phone. Emissions are also produced during infrastructure construction, raw material extracting and processing, and later during transport and disposal. All these greenhouse gases contribute to climate change and put ecosystems at risk. All emissions from the life cycle of a product or activity are included in the carbon footprint.