How Is Carbon Footprint Connected to the Green House Effect?

Your carbon footprint is a measurement of the total amount of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, that your lifestyle and daily activities cause to be emitted. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap heat, preventing it from escaping back into space. That is called the greenhouse effect.

The Rise in Greenhouse Gases

• The industrial revolution caused dramatic increases in the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, from 280 parts per million (ppm) in pre-industrial times to 382 ppm in 2006. Concentrations of methane, another industry-linked greenhouse gas, increased 148 percent.

Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change

• The increase in greenhouse gases causes more heat to be trapped in the atmosphere and reflected back to Earth's surface, causing average air and ocean temperatures to go up, polar ice caps to melt and sea levels to rise. Many scientists believe that we must reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 ppm in order to prevent catastrophic climate change.

Carbon Footprint Measurement

• Examining your carbon footprint can help you find ways to reduce your personal and household contribution to climate change. To measure a person's carbon footprint, scientists look at how much energy he consumes every day and how much energy was needed to produce the products he uses. For example, your carbon footprint includes not just the gasoline your car uses during your daily commute but also the energy used to make the car. Many carbon footprint calculators are available online.