What’s the difference between a carbon footprint, greenhouse gases and emissions?
What Is a Carbon Footprint?
A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted—directly and indirectly—by an individual, organization, product, or activity. It’s measured in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e), which standardizes the impact of different gases based on their global warming potential.
Your carbon footprint includes emissions from:
Energy use (electricity, heating, fuel)
Transportation (cars, flights, shipping)
Consumption (food, goods, services)
Waste (landfill, recycling, wastewater)
Understanding your carbon footprint is the first step toward reducing it—and toward building a more sustainable business.
What Are Greenhouse Gases?
Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, contributing to global warming and climate change. While some occur naturally, human activities have dramatically increased their concentration.
The Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty adopted in 1997 and entered into force in 2005, was the first major global agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It identified seven key greenhouse gases to be monitored and reduced:
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) – from fossil fuel combustion and deforestation
Methane (CH₄) – from agriculture, landfills, and fossil fuel extraction
Nitrous oxide (N₂O) – from fertilizers and industrial processes
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) – used in refrigeration and air conditioning
Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) – byproducts of aluminum production and electronics
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) – used in electrical insulation
Nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃) – added later, used in electronics manufacturing
Each of these gases has a different global warming potential (GWP), which is why emissions are expressed in CO₂e to allow comparison.
What Do We Mean by Emissions?
Emissions refer to the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These can be:
Direct emissions – from sources you own or control (e.g., company vehicles, boilers)
Indirect emissions – from activities like electricity use or supply chain operations
Emissions are categorized into Scope 1, 2, and 3, which helps organizations measure and manage their impact more effectively.
