FOUNDATION FOR ADVANCING RENEWABLE ACTIONS AND DECISIONS
Carbon Footprint
What is a carbon footprint?
A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by our individual and collective actions.
The average carbon footprint for a person in the United States is 19 metric tons, one of the highest rates in the world. Globally the average carbon footprint for an individual is closer to 4 metric tons.
A commonly used definition of carbon footprint is as follows: "A measure of the total amount of carbon dioxide and methane 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 using the relevant 100-year global warming potential"
Carbon footprints are usually reported in tons of emissions per year.
SCOPE
Greenhouse gas emissions
Greenhouse gas emissions
Greenhouse gas emissions
The greenhouse gas protocol is a set of standards for tracking greenhouse gas emissions. The standards divide emissions into three scopes. Scope1, 2 and 3 within the value chain. Those greenhouse gas emissions caused directly by the organization/company itself (e.g. by burning fossil fuels) are referred to as:
Scope 1
Greenhouse gas emissions
Greenhouse gas emissions
Carbon emissions come from sources that are directly from the site that is producing a product or delivering a service. An example for industry would be the emissions related to burning a fuel on site. On that individual level, emissions from personal vehicles or gas burning stoves would fall under Scope 1
Scope 2
Scope 2
Scope 2
Scope 2 emissions are the indirect emissions related to purchasing electricity, heat, and/or steam used on site. Examples of indirect carbon emissions include: transportation of materials/fuels, any energy used outside of the facility, wastes produced outside of the facility. It also includes end-of-life process of treatments, product and waste transportation, emissions associated with selling the product.
Scope 3
Scope 2
Scope 2
Scope 3 emissions are all the other indirect emissions derived from the activities of an organization but from sources which they do not own or control. Scope 3 emission sources include emissions from suppliers and product users (also known as the value chain). Transportation of goods, and other indirect emissions are also part of this scope.
