Download What`s your carbon footprint? Fact sheet

What’s your carbon footprint?
Fact sheet
What is climate change?
When we burn fossil fuels to run our homes, factories and cars, carbon dioxide is produced. This is adding to the
greenhouse effect, which in turn is causing our climate to change.
What is the greenhouse effect?
Greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide let the heat of the sun into our atmosphere but don’t allow the heat to escape
(like a greenhouse). Because of the amount of fossil fuels we burn to meet our energy needs we are producing too
much carbon dioxide. More heat is being trapped than before and this is causing climate change.
What is a carbon footprint or carbon number?
Our carbon footprint measures how much carbon dioxide we as individuals produce by, for example, using energy in
our homes and when we travel. We can measure this by calculating our carbon number. We can tackle climate
change by reducing our carbon number.
Did you know?
In 2011 in Ireland the average amount of carbon dioxide emissions per person was about 8 tonnes, so their
carbon number is 8.

The average carbon number of a person in the USA is 17.

The average carbon number of a person in India is 2.
People in richer countries use more energy than those in poorer countries.
(Source World Bank: http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.ATM.CO2E.PC/countries )
How can I find out my carbon number?
There is a list of carbon calculators at the end of this factsheet that can be used to find your carbon number. The
Calculator will also highlight which areas of your lifestyle have the greatest effect on climate change and will give you
advice on what you can do to reduce your carbon number.
What can I do to lower my carbon number?
We can all make positive changes to the way we live, work and travel, for example:






Walk, cycle or take the bus, it uses less energy than going by car.
Don’t waste energy, switch things like lights and TVs off when they are not in use.
Encourage adults to choose energy efficient products like light bulbs and appliances with an A on the energy
label. They do the same job with less energy.
Think about the things you buy – food, clothes, cosmetics – where they come from, how they are made, how
far they have travelled, how they are packaged. Choose products that are produced locally, using
environmentally friendly materials, with less packaging.
Remember to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as you can!
Go on a carbon diet!
ACT NOW!
To calculate your carbon number try the carbon calculators listed below. These are free, online tools that are designed
to help you reduce your carbon emissions at home and at work. Individuals and businesses can use these to calculate
their carbon footprint and discover how to increase green credentials by saving energy, resources and money.
Carbon calculators
http://www.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator/
http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx
http://footprint.wwf.org.uk/
http://www.carbontrust.com/resources/guides/carbon-footprinting-and-reporting/conversion-factors
Websites
http://testweb.epa.ie/irelandsenvironment/climatechange/ The Environmental Protection Agency webpages on climate
change
www.change.ie for facts on climate change and tips on what we can do.
http://ec.europa.eu/climateaction/ The European Union’s website on climate action, with details of what the EU is
doing and what we can do as individuals.
http://climaterealityproject.org/
www.greenpeace.org
http://www.greenme.ie/
http://www.1010uk.org/about/history