Climate Action Starts Here5-Minute Guide
Step 1 · 1 min read

Ambassador basics: what's a carbon footprint?

Almost everything you do releases CO₂ into the air. A few everyday examples:

Driving to the store
Binge-watching a show
Ordering takeout
Cranking the AC or heat

Your carbon footprint is all of that CO₂ added up over a year, measured in tonnes.

Why it matters

CO₂ traps heat in the atmosphere — more heat means longer droughts, harder floods, and tougher growing seasons. These changes are first felt by the farmers you'll meet in Step 3. The good news is that CO₂ can be measured, lowered, and pulled back out of the air. That's where you come in.

How much carbon does one person add per year?

These are average tonnes of CO₂ per person, per year. The gap between the target and the averages is the work ahead

~2 t

Paris target*

~4.7 t

Global avg

~7.2 t

EU avg

~16 t

US avg

* the level scientists say we each need to reach to keep global warming below dangerous levels

Ambassadors don't aim for perfect. They learn their number, share what they know, and help others lower theirs too.

Next up

Estimate Yours