Carbon Footprint Calculator

A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases produced directly and indirectly by human activities, expressed in equivalent metric tons of CO₂ per year.

The average American emits about 16 metric tons of CO₂ per year, roughly four times the global average of 4.6 tons. Scientists suggest each person should aim for under 2 tons by 2050 to limit warming to 1.5°C.

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) trap heat in the atmosphere. CO₂ is the most abundant, but methane (CH₄) is 28× more potent over 100 years, and nitrous oxide (N₂O) is 265× more potent. All are reported as CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e).

Burning one gallon of gasoline produces about 8.9 kg of CO₂. A single transatlantic flight emits roughly 1.5 tons CO₂e per passenger, comparable to several months of home energy use.

The biggest reductions typically come from transportation and diet. Switching from a gasoline car to an EV can save 1.5 to 3 tons CO₂ per year, depending on your grid. Avoiding one long-haul flight saves about 1.5 tons CO₂e.

Diet changes can reduce emissions by 0.5 to 1.5 tons per year. Shifting from heavy meat consumption to a plant-based diet is one of the highest-impact personal choices available.

Carbon offsets allow individuals and organizations to compensate for emissions by funding equivalent CO₂ reductions elsewhere, such as reforestation, renewable energy projects, or methane capture.

A mature tree absorbs roughly 21 kg of CO₂ per year. To offset the US average of 16 tons, you would need about 762 trees growing for an entire year. Offset prices range from $10 to $50 per ton through verified programs like Gold Standard and VCS.