Foot print is a measure of the impact of our activities on the environment, and in particular on climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases we are producing in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating, transportation etc. Our ‘carbon footprint’ is a measurement of all greenhouse gases we individually produce. It is measured in units of tonnes (or kg) of carbon dioxide equivalent.

A carbon footprint is made up of the sum of two parts, the primary foot print and the secondary footprint. 

1. The primary footprint is a measure of our direct emissions of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels including domestic energy consumption and transportation (e.g. car and plane). We have direct control of these. The following table is showing us the way to calculate our individual primary footprint of the most common consumptions.
2. The secondary footprint is a measure of the indirect CO2 emissions from the whole lifecycle of products we use - those associated with their manufacture and eventual breakdown. To put it very simply – the more we buy the more emissions will be caused on our behalf. Our decisions on the following add up to our secondary footprint.

The direct consequence of increased carbon foot print is Global Warming and Climate Change. Global Warming is the gradual increase in temperature of the Earth's surface. 

Over the past two decades the effect has become more marked. Considerable evidence exists that most of this warming has been caused by human activities. That is to say we have altered the chemical composition of the atmosphere through a build up of greenhouse gases – primarily carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. 

This means that a ‘cloud’ is building up around the earth under which heat is accumulating instead of dispersing in the atmosphere.

If we do nothing, rising global temperatures will cause sea level to rise and alter local climate conditions, affecting forests, crop yields, and water supplies. It may also affect human health, animals, and many types of ecosystems. Deserts may expand and some of our countryside may be permanently altered. 

So we need to recognise our personal impact on global warming. Calculation of “Carbon Footprint” will show how to minimise our impact - starting today - and show us how to make the right product choices in the future.