How to reduce your carbon footprint?

What is a carbon footprint?

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are composed of various chemical elements, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Their presence in the air traps heat in the atmosphere, hindering the cooling of the land and oceans. Directly responsible for global warming, the emission scale of these gases is characterized by an indicator or index called the carbon footprint.

This measure accounts for the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted directly or indirectly by human activities, after the GHGs have been released into the atmosphere by the combustion of fossil fuels such as oil, gas, or coal.

Calculated in tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e), the carbon footprint takes into account the various sources of pollution such as transport, energy production, the creation of goods, or agriculture, and through it food.

How to calculate your personal carbon footprint?

The number of goods and services we use daily whose production depends on fossil fuels is substantial. Therefore, while measuring one's personal carbon footprint may seem complex, tools are fortunately available to help us.

They propose to establish an average based on the calculation of the energy consumption of our homes, on the emissions of our food alternatives, on those of the production of our goods and services, as well as on those of our modes of transport for our daily journeys and our long journeys.

These calculators are based on detailed questionnaires, which then allow the results obtained to be compared with measured national or global averages, in order to better situate one's carbon footprint, and determine what specific actions can be taken to reduce one's environmental impact.

Among other things, the calculator myco2emission.com Carbone 4 makes it easy to obtain a reliable and accurate CO2 emissions index.

What is the average carbon footprint of a French person?

According to the data and study shared by the low-carbon strategy and climate change adaptation consulting agency Carbone4, the carbon footprint of the French in 2021 amounted to an average of 9.9 tonnes of CO² equivalent per person per year.

For comparison, the average global carbon footprint is approximately 6 tonnes per capita, around 2.3 tonnes for a person living in India, and 22.5 tonnes annually for a person residing in the United States. The average European carbon footprint is around 11 tonnes per capita. This is notably higher than that of a French citizen because CO2 emissions resulting from electricity consumption vary depending on the types of electricity generation facilities in each country (this is referred to as a country's energy mix). Since France primarily generates its electricity through nuclear power plants, its carbon emissions are lower compared to those of countries that rely on gas or coal-fired power plants.

What are the main contributors to my individual carbon footprint?

Our individual carbon footprint is influenced by various factors, each having a more or less significant impact on our total GHG emissions depending on our lifestyle.

Let's identify here the main contributors to our personal carbon footprint to better understand how to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Means of transport and travel.

Means of transport represent the first source of carbon emissions in the national average for French people, with an average reaching 2700 kg CO²eq/person estimated in 2021 according to studies by the Carbone 4 agency.

This is mainly due to the car fleet, particularly internal combustion engine vehicles running on petrol or diesel; cars which alone account for more than ¾ of transport-related carbon emissions, and represent the highest source of carbon emissions across all sectors with 2100 kg of CO² per year per person.

The last quarter of transport-related emissions is mainly attributable to airplanes (420 kg), followed by other modes of transport (trains, buses, bicycles, etc.)

Food.

What we eat and our own eating habits play a central role in our CO² emissions, since, smoothed over the year, these represent no less than 2450 kg of CO²eq/person, making it on average the 2nd most emissive indicator after transport.

In this average, more than half of the emissions are related to food of animal origin, and the rest is shared between the beverage sector, various other crops (fruit, cereals, etc.) and the transport they require.

The energy bill.

Energy consumption remains one of the main contributors to our carbon footprint, and while the type of power plants producing the electricity that supplies our homes is not a matter of individual choice (for example, Germany's energy mix relies primarily on coal-fired power generation, and France's on nuclear power), other personal choices have a direct impact on our environmental footprint and our personal greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, whether or not we use gas or electric appliances to heat our homes or cook our food, whether or not we install air conditioning, how much or too little lighting we use, or how many household appliances we use, are all levers that everyone can pull to reduce their CO2 footprint.

The purchase of goods and services.

The consumption of material goods such as clothing and electronics, or of services such as leisure activities which require the activation of machines powered by fossil fuels, represents the fourth factor in our individual carbon emissions.

Public spending.

Fifth and final factor to consider, public spending services such as health, defense or education, are an integral part of calculating our individual carbon footprint.

However, these are less controllable and less dependent on our personal consumption will, since they are mostly services put in place by the State, in the general interest of citizens.

What are the advantages of low-carbon consumption?

Global warming is causing significant changes to the planet and its ecosystems, hence the use of the term climate disruption. These changes include an increase in extreme weather events such as storms, floods, droughts, megafires, extreme heat waves, and rising sea levels. ocean acidification, the disruption of hydrological cycles, soil desertification, or the disruption of seasons and natural cycles.

These extraordinary phenomena, which are occurring with increasing frequency, have consequences for living animal and plant species as well as for human populations. They threaten food security, lead to the emergence of new diseases and health problems, cause migrations and population displacements, and, beyond a certain temperature threshold, result in reduced life expectancy for vulnerable individuals and endanger biodiversity.

From an economic perspective, climate change causes material damage requiring significant expenditure. It also leads to difficulties in food supplies, weakens various economic and industrial sectors, and increases poverty.

For all these reasons, reducing your carbon footprint by opting for a a simpler lifestyle And eco-responsible, helps to push back these threats.

This also has the benefit of allowing for a healthier and more balanced lifestyle, away from an excessive consumption model. Finally, in addition to preserving natural resources, low-carbon consumption helps support ethical initiatives and businesses, such as... our brand shoes vegan, eco-responsible and produced locally in Europe.

What steps can be taken to reduce one's carbon footprint?

To produce in a controlled and sustainable manner.

Reducing carbon impact is not just about consuming better, but also about producing better. Therefore, it requires industries, businesses, and, through them, business leaders, to listen to environmental needs and adapt. their production charter to these.

This involves using ecological materials, recycled, innovative techniques and clean technologies, as well as moving towards suppliers and local production partners. This can also be achieved through processes based on the circular economy, and where possible, on the use of renewable energies.

Getting around using low-carbon means of transport.

Adopting more sustainable modes of transport, such as cycling, public transport or walking for daily journeys instead of individual car journeys, significantly reduces the carbon footprint associated with travel.

When car use is unavoidable, carpooling or the adoption of electric or hybrid vehicles can significantly reduce emissions, although these still cause significant pollution; even more so if the vehicle is heavy.

Finally, as mentioned in our article Eco-friendly travel, Reducing air travel by travelling differently, opting for local or regional destinations accessible by train or bus, helps to significantly reduce one's carbon footprint.

Eat vegetarian, local, organic and seasonal food.

A diet based on meat and dairy products accounts for more than half of the CO2 emissions linked to France's food carbon footprint. Reducing the consumption of these types of products by favoring plant-based options - which form the basis of vegetarian and vegan diets, for example - helps reduce carbon emissions related to livestock farming. Furthermore, these are less harmful to the environment and help support the animal welfare, and are generally better for human health because they are less rich in fatty acids.

Finally, in addition to eating a balanced diet, eating local, organic and seasonal food helps to further reduce one's environmental footprint.

Reduce your energy consumption.

Lowering the heating and avoiding unnecessarily heating unoccupied rooms, reserving air conditioning for people with health issues, and adopting eco-friendly practices such as improving the energy and thermal efficiency of your home can make a significant difference to your energy bill. Similarly, using low-energy appliances and adopting simple habits like putting devices on standby or turning off lights when leaving a room also contribute to reducing your environmental footprint.

Buy less but better.

One of the keys to reducing your carbon footprint lies in changing your purchasing habits to move towards a potentially more sustainable and resilient way of consuming. Of course, this doesn't mean giving up occasional, spontaneous treats, but rather rethinking your consumption habits holistically, with the aim of buying what you need and adjusting your routines to eliminate unnecessary purchases.

This is characterized, for example, by buying fewer metal-intensive electronic devices, reducing the purchase of new vehicles, spacing out wardrobe updates, and choosing clothes and ethical shoes of quality, from sustainable fashion and a vegan manufacturing, Made in Europe or made in France, rather than products resulting from fast fashion.

This also implies directing purchases towards solutions designed according to an eco-responsible approach and within an ethical framework, which takes into account both carbon emissions due to transport, but also the supply and use of ecological materials, potentially recycled, and if possible also recyclable.

Opt for durable and repairable items, and inquire about alternatives to second hand, Reducing, sorting, and recycling waste are all levers that can be used to reduce one's carbon footprint, lower pollution, and participate in building a societal model more in line with protecting the planet. animal species.