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Two workers measuring the circumference of a tree in a forest.
Carbon monitoring Measuring the circumference of a tree trunk as part of carbon monitoring in a forest in Indonesia’s Berua District. © Bridget Besaw

What is a carbon footprint?

A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by our actions.

The average carbon footprint for a person in the United States is 16 tons, one of the highest rates in the world. Globally, the average carbon footprint is closer to 4 tons. To have the best chance of avoiding a 2℃ rise in global temperatures, the average global carbon footprint per year needs to drop to under 2 tons by 2050.

Lowering individual carbon footprints from 16 tons to 2 tons doesn’t happen overnight! By making small changes to our actions, like eating less meat, taking fewer connecting flights and line drying our clothes, we can start making a big difference.

Calculate Your Carbon Footprint

 

 

 

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Overhead view of a river with sky-blue water winding through a dense forest of tall evergreen trees.
Holmes River Aerial view of the Holmes River, British Columbia, Canada. © Shane Kalyn

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