The World, Explained · 45 sec
Carbon footprint
A small piece of context that makes the wider world easier to read.
The useful idea
- The useful idea
A carbon footprint (or greenhouse gas footprint) is a calculated value or index that makes it possible to compare the total amount of greenhouse gases that an activity, product, company or country adds to
- How it works
Carbon footprints are usually reported in tonnes of emissions (CO2-equivalent) per unit of comparison.
- Why it matters
Such units can be, for example, tonnes CO2-eq per year, per kilogram of protein for consumption, per kilometer travelled, per piece of clothing and so forth.
Why this matters
Use Carbon footprint as context when interpreting events and claims about the world.
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Use Carbon footprint as context when interpreting events and claims about the world.
Test your recall
Which idea belongs to the explanation of Carbon footprint?
- The useful idea — correct
- How it works
- Why it matters
A carbon footprint (or greenhouse gas footprint) is a calculated value or index that makes it possible to compare the total amount of greenhouse gases that an activity, product, company or country adds to