WHAT IS A FOOTPRINT?

A carbon footprint is historically defined as the total emissions caused by an individual, event, organisation, or product, expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent. Greenhouse gases (GHGs), including carbon dioxide, can be emitted through land clearance and the production and consumption of food, fuels, manufactured goods, materials, wood, roads, buildings, transportation and other services.

AVERAGE FOOTPRINT EXPLAINED

Understanding average consumption or how our emissions are benchmarked across global averages and goals is an important reference point that helps make sense of our impact on the environment and ultimately, the planet.

Country Metric tons of carbon dioxide
China11472
United States5007
EU272793
India2710
Russia1756
The Global North as a group is collectively responsible for not less than 92 percent of global emissions while, the Global South is responsible for only 8 percent of excess emissions

CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita)

Country metric tons per capita
USA14.7
China7.6
European Union6.1
United Kingdom5.2
Sub-sahara Africa0.7