A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs), primarily carbon dioxide (CO2​), released into the atmosphere as a result of your activities. It quantifies your personal or household’s contribution to climate change, usually measured in tonnes of CO2​ equivalent (CO2​e).

Knowing your carbon footprint helps you understand your personal impact on the environment and climate change. It highlights which of your activities contribute most to emissions, allowing you to identify areas where you can make changes to live a more sustainable lifestyle and reduce your environmental impact.

Many daily activities contribute to your carbon footprint. The main categories include:
Energy Use: Electricity, heating, and cooling in your home.
Transportation: Driving cars, taking flights, using public transport.
Food: Production, processing, packaging, and transportation of the food you eat, especially meat and dairy.
Waste: How much waste you produce and whether you recycle or compost.
Consumption: The production and disposal of goods and services you purchase.

Yes, a smaller carbon footprint is generally better for the environment. Reducing your carbon footprint means you are emitting fewer greenhouse gases, which helps mitigate climate change, protects ecosystems, and contributes to a healthier planet for current and future generations.

Our Carbon Footprint Calculator is an easy-to-use online tool designed for individuals and households to estimate their annual greenhouse gas emissions. It helps you understand where your emissions come from across key areas like home energy, transport, food, and waste.

The calculator asks you a series of questions about your lifestyle and consumption habits (e.g., electricity usage, mileage driven, flight frequency, dietary choices). It then uses scientifically derived “emission factors” to convert these activities into an estimated amount of CO2​e emitted.