History of carbon footprint?

A carbon footprint has historically been defined as the

total set of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused
by an organization, event, product or person.
It is probably an extension of the concept of
"ecological footprints" developed by the ecologist
William Rees at the University of British Columbia in
the early 1990s. Dr. Mathis Wackernagel, executive
director of the Global Footprint Network, states that
the phrase "carbon footprint" received "its biggest
boost in 2005 through an enormous BP media
campaign on the carbon footprint.

WHAT IS CARBON FOOTPRINT?

The total amount of greenhouse gases produced to
directly and indirectly support human activities,
usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon
dioxide (CO2).
Your carbon footprint is the sum of all emissions of
CO2 (carbon dioxide), which were induced by your
activities in a given time frame. Usually a carbon
footprint is calculated for the time period of a year.

Basic calculation
Fuel

Unit

CO2 emitted per

unit

Petrol

1 liter

2.3 kg

Gasoline

1 liter

2.3 kg

Diesel

1 liter

2.7 kg

Oil (heating)

1 liter

3.0 kg

If your car consumes 7.5 liter diesel per 100 km, then a
drive of 300 km distance consumes 3 x 7.5 = 22.5 liter
diesel, which adds 22.5 x 2.7 kg = 60.75 kg CO2 to your
personal carbon footprint.

 Each of the following activities add 1 kg of CO2 to

your personal carbon footprint:
Travel by public transportation (train or bus) a
distance of 10 to 12 km (6.5 to 7 miles)
Drive with your car a distance of 6 km or 3.75 miles
(assuming 7.3 litres petrol per 100 km or 39 mpg)
Fly with a plane a distance of 2.2 km or 1.375 miles.
Operate your computer for 32 hours (60 Watt
consumption assumed)
Production of 5 plastic bags
Production of 2 plastic bottles
Production of 1/3 of an American cheeseburger

WHAT IS GHG?
Greenhouse gases are those that can absorb and emit
infrared radiation . In order, the most abundant greenhouse
gases in Earth's atmosphere are:

 Carbon dioxide is a so called greenhouse

gas causing global warming . Other
greenhouse gases which might be emitted
as a result of your activities are e.g.
methane and ozone. These greenhouse
gases are normally also taken into account
for the carbon footprint. They are
converted into the amount of CO2 that
would cause the same effects on global
warming (this is called equivalent CO2
amount).
The carbon footprint is a very powerful tool
to understand the impact of personal
behaviour on global warming.

CO2 emissions from India

Main Effects
Climate Change
Climate change is the ultimate effect of large carbon footprints.
Greenhouse gases, whether natural or human-produced, contribute to
the warming of the planet. From 1990 to 2005, carbon dioxide
emissions increased by 31 percent. By 2008, the emissions had
contributed to a 35 percent increase in radiative warming, or a shift in
Earth's energy balance toward warming, over 1990 levels.
Depletion of Resources
Large carbon footprints deplete resources on large and small scales,
from a country's deforestation activities to one home's increased use
of air conditioning. The more those with large carbon footprints use
resources, the more greenhouse gases increase and spur further
climate change

Case studies

Carbon footprint calculator

How green is your college ?

1. Does your college have a recycling programme for its
waste paper, cardboard, cans and bottles?
2. Does the college have a policy to use recycled paper?
3. Does your college seek to avoid the use of disposable
paper, plastic, foam cups and plates?
4. Has the college eliminated the use of aerosol sprays
and fire extinguishers that contain CFCs?
5. Does the college have an active policy and strategy to
reduce its water consumption?
6. Does the college use environmentally-friendly
cleaning liquids?

7. Does the college avoid the use of garden and

household pesticides, using environmentallyfriendly alternatives instead?
8. Does the college have an active policy and strategy
to reduce its energy consumption?
9. Does the kitchen offer a choice of healthy foods,
and discourage students from eating junk foods?
10. Does the kitchen collect its food waste to turn it
into compost, or use it to feed dogs or pigs?
11. Does the college have houseplants in rooms and
corridors?
12. Is the college making an effort to beautify its
grounds?

13. Does the college provide environmental education and

project-work for students and staff?
14. Does the college get involved in local environmental
activities (both staff and students)?
15. Does the college invite speakers to talk to all about the
environment and its problems?
16. Does the college library ever hold special exhibitions
of books, magazines about the world environmental
crisis?
17. Does the college have an environmental club or
society?
18. Has your college ever undertaken an environmental
audit of its activities and courses?

19. Has your college set up an

Environmental action team to look into
the kinds of actions which it could take?
20. Does the college encourage staff and
students to take a positive attitude,
building the belief that we CAN make a
difference?
SCORING:

Yes = 2
Partially, presently discussing this = 1
No = 0

REPORT CARD
35-40 = You are doing excellently!! Take a Green
Medal!!
30-35 = You are doing quite well!
20-30 = You have made a start, but you are not yet a
green college.
0-20 = Plenty of room for improvement, must do
better next term!

Our college score is:

Conclusion
We should take
measures
to
shorten
our
carbon footprint
by reducing the
emission
of
greenhouse gases
mainly
carbon
dioxide.

Why we initiated the club?

To calculate carbon footprint for various day
to day activities of an individual or an
organization and then find and suggest
measures to shorten (reduce) the footprint of
an individual or an organization as a whole.
Also spread awareness among the students and
people about the same and help to maintain
planet green as a whole.

Why should you support

the club ?
Gain knowledge about the environment.
Perform actions to improve the campus environment and maintain it
green .
Help to solve local environmental problems.
Educate others about the environment.
Enjoy yourself and have fun.
Learn about clubs, and how they should be organised and run.

 This club will be an ideal place for you to gain

these understandings.
This club will promote environmental literacy
as well as raise the quality of your total
educational experience.
By promoting the study of and actions on
issues that really interest you.
This club will increase your participation in all
areas of learning.

Future Activities
Education: Prepare an environmental literacy
campaign: get posters put up on bulletin boards.
Prepare dramatic presentations on issues.
Prepare and run a college environmental quiz,
with prizes for winners.
Maintain an Environmental Notice Board with
interesting news on the environment and set up
Environmental Corners in the library.
Arrange for interesting people to speak on a
topic or issue.

THANK YOU