1.5 Summary of Section 1

The main learning points from Section 1 are:

• A carbon footprint is the annual mass of ‘carbon’ emissions that result from the activities of an individual or a group, from an event or providing a product or service. To be complete, a carbon footprint should include the direct and indirect emissions of CO₂ and CO₂ equivalent including other GHGs (mainly methane and nitrous oxide). However, for simplicity, carbon footprints based on CO₂ emissions alone are sometimes used.
• The carbon footprint is an environmental indicator that is concerned mainly with climate change. It measures other environmental impacts, such as local air pollution indirectly.
• Emissions associated with imported food, goods and services are a major part of the carbon footprint of individuals and households in countries of the Global North, such as the UK, Germany and USA.
• From a consumption perspective, individuals and households are directly or indirectly responsible for creating or triggering about 60% to 70% of the total carbon footprint of Global North countries. Hence, reducing the carbon footprint arising from individual and household activities and consumption is very important in addressing climate change.

The next section will consider variations in carbon footprints depending on factors such as where you live, the type of home you live in, income, values and lifestyle.