what is carbon footprint

A carbon footprint is a measure of the total amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions of a defined population, system, or activity, considering all relevant sources, sinks, and storage within a specific boundary. It is calculated as carbon dioxide equivalent using the relevant 100-year global warming potential (GWP100). The concept also often includes the emissions of other greenhouse gases, such as methane, nitrous oxide, or chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). It is the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event, or product, and is usually expressed as a measure of weight, such as tons of CO2 or CO2 equivalent per year