Carbon footprint is a concept first produced in the mid-2000s. This concept was developed to measure the damage caused by human activities on nature in terms of carbon emissions.
While measuring the carbon footprint; Considering the activities of individuals, institutions or communities, the greenhouse gases that they emit directly or indirectly into the atmosphere are measured in terms of Carbon Dioxide (CO2). In this measurement, the period is usually considered annually, while the measurement is made in tons.
Greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere have a very high heat retention property. Among these greenhouse gases addressed within the framework of the Kyoto Protocol:
- Carbon Dioxide CO2
- Methane CH4
- Nitrogen oxides N2O
- Hydrofluorocarbons HFC derivatives
- Perfluorocarbons PFC derivatives
- Sulfur hexafluoride SF6.
Some of these greenhouse gases in the list are emitted naturally and some as a result of human activities. These greenhouse gases prevent the earth from losing heat by retaining these rays in the atmosphere after the sun’s rays are reflected from the earth, while the greenhouse effect occurs when the rays are retained by these gases.
When these gases are present in the atmosphere at normal levels, they can successfully fulfill their duties. But when greenhouse gases are released more than necessary, the now classically known problem of global warming arises. However, while climate change is occurring, there is also the risk of endangering natural life.
What are the Needs that Created the Concept of Carbon Footprint?
As the population increases day by day and all the risks that endanger natural life in the growing world begin to reach an obvious level, scientists have started to conduct many different research. Within this framework, scientists have investigated the causes of these threats and tried to answer how a solution should be developed.
The carbon footprint is the largest part of the Ecological Footprint concept. As a result of extensive studies by scientists, the concept of ecological footprint has emerged. Basically, this concept refers to a study that shows how adequate or inadequate the resources that people demand from nature are.
Studies have stated that as a result of the continuation of today’s production and consumption habits, our planet will become unable to meet the needs of all people on earth in the future. In order to create a solution to this problem, it is necessary to first understand the causes of this problem.
The ecological footprint is most affected by the following factors:
- Urbanization
- Waste
- Fossil fuel use
- Uncontrolled consumption of natural resources
- Damage to natural life
- Industrialization
- Increasing population
- Pollution of the environment
- Underutilization of renewable energy
- Inadequate use of recycling systems
- Increasing technological developments
As ecological footprint studies have become more detailed and increasing, they have also become more specialized. Among these factors affecting the ecological footprint and carbon footprint, fossil fuel consumption is the most damaging factor. For this reason, fossil fuel consumption is accepted as the main factor in the increase in carbon footprint.
Which Factors Affect Carbon Footprint?
Different amounts of carbon dioxide are emitted into nature through many activities such as the production/consumption systems of humans on earth, how they use energy, how they manage their waste, which transportation they prefer or how they eat. The effects of carbon dioxide emissions on nature are also divided into many different types. If nature is not able to counteract this effect with sufficient biological capacity, an imbalance occurs.
Carbon emissions are often caused by the frequent use of fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil and coal. This is because the main content of fossil fuels is carbon, and carbon starts to emerge after the use of these fuels. In terms of releasing carbon into nature more than necessary, the factors should be examined scientifically and institutionally separately.
What are the Individual Factors Affecting the Carbon Footprint?
Individual factors that have an impact on the carbon footprint can be analyzed item by item.
- In case of personal vehicle use; direct carbon emission occurs as fossil fuel consumption is generally ensured. As higher vehicle use per person occurs, a significant increase is seen in the total footprint.
- In the case of fuel use at home, carbon emissions occur especially when fuels such as coal and natural gas are used for heating. However, at this point, natural gas produces a lower emission than coal.
- In the case of electricity consumption at home, fossil fuels are again used to generate this electricity, while carbon emissions increase directly as electricity demand increases.
- Household appliances will lead to more electricity consumption in domestic life.
- Public transport and air travel are actually more recommended than transportation by individual vehicles. However, more carbon dioxide is emitted as a result of the fuel consumption of vehicles such as trains, buses, subways and airplanes. Among these modes of transportation, air travel in particular produces the highest emissions.
- The carbon footprint may also increase when meeting tourism and entertainment needs due to the products consumed, services provided and fuel used.
- In terms of food/beverages, especially meat production, imported foods and chemical foods are very important factors. The processes used in the production of meat, the processing of food in industry and the logistics of imported foods cause an increase in the carbon footprint.
- Carbon is also emitted in the production of footwear and clothing.
- In the absence of recycling and waste management, waste such as paper, glass and plastics is a significant contributor to carbon footprints.
- If green areas are not protected, the carbon footprint effect will increase due to decreasing green plants. This is because when green plants perform photosynthesis, they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release more oxygen into nature.
- In the case of environmental pollution, factors such as wastes left in the environment and failure to protect wildlife will cause more carbon emissions in the atmosphere, which will both harm nature and nature will not be able to absorb these emissions sufficiently.
- The habit of overconsumption should be the factor that people should pay the most attention to. Because while many of the factors listed cannot be given up, overconsumption can be given up more easily. In this case, when enough food, clothes/shoes and household goods are provided as needed, there will be less production, product life cycles will increase and carbon levels in nature will decrease.
What are the Corporate Factors Affecting the Carbon Footprint?
When considering at the corporate factors on the carbon footprint, especially the activities carried out to provide services or products should be taken into consideration. In fact, in this case, not only companies but also scales such as cities and municipalities can be examined, and calculations can be made with the same standards.
One of the biggest factors in global warming is greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the use of fossil fuels. In response to this, the Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997 in order to provide an international opportunity to combat global warming. After this protocol was put into practice in 2005, the ISO 14064 Standard on Greenhouse Gas Emission was published by the International Standards Organization (ISO).
While the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and ISO 14064 were published within the framework of the Kyoto Protocol, it was stated that the carbon footprint can occur directly or indirectly within the framework of these publications. In this sense, direct, i.e. primary carbon footprint and indirect, i.e. secondary carbon footprint are defined for the formation of carbon footprint. On the other hand, 3 different classes have been determined for the carbon footprint according to its scope.
So, in this context, according to the formation of carbon footprint:
- Within the framework of the primary (direct) carbon footprint, the measurement of gases emitted directly from the sources obtained and controlled by the reporting organization is taken into consideration.
- Within the framework of the secondary (indirect) carbon footprint, the results are obtained with the resources that arise as a result of the operations carried out by the organization that creates the report, but which are controlled by another legal entity.
According to the scope of carbon footprint:
- Scope 1 Factors
Carbon emissions in scope one are caused by fossil fuel used in facilities or vehicles owned or controlled by the reporting organization (primary carbon footprint). In the context of Scope 1 factors;
- In the context of the energy used by the organizational units; gases generated as a result of activities such as combustion and smelting and fugitive emissions from different points are taken into account.
- While the vehicles in the company consume fuel, the gasoline, diesel or LPG used in these vehicles create direct emissions.
- Scope 2 Factors
Scope 2 takes into account the indirect emissions that occur as a result of the energy that an organization purchase. (secondary carbon footprint) Within the framework of Scope 2 factors;
- Emissions occur from sources such as electricity, heating/cooling systems or water vapor that the organization purchases through the use of energy that the organization purchases.
- Scope 3 Factors
At the point of Scope 3; energy indirect emissions that are not included in the Scope 2 framework are taken into consideration (secondary carbon footprint). Within the framework of Scope 3 factors; all production stages of the products and services obtained by the reporting organization, logistics of these products and services to points such as distributors, dealers or end consumers, use and consumption of these products and services are included in every point processes. In other words, within this scope, the energy indirect emissions created at every point such as the production process and the life cycle of the product are included in the framework. The following topics are also included in this process.
- Transportation of personnel
- Waste generated as a result of operations
- Activities related to energy and fuel
- Services and products purchased
- Product/service uses
- Franchises
- Rental assets
- Business trips
- Logistics and distribution
- Capital goods and investment
- Product/service transactions sold
- Product service end of life
