In recent years, studies have shown that we may only have a matter of years before global warming becomes irreversible. So it’s never been more important to consider how our actions are impacting the planet.
In this article, we’ve explored what a carbon footprint is, the rate of carbon emissions produced around the world, and how you can reduce your own carbon footprint to have a positive environmental impact.
What is a carbon footprint?
‘Carbon footprint’ is a phrase often used when discussing how our lifestyle choices and actions impact the environment. It essentially refers to the amount of greenhouse gasses that an individual, organisation, or even nation releases into the atmosphere.
How to calculate your carbon footprint
Your carbon footprint is measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent – often framed as CO2e. As well as carbon dioxide, CO2e takes into account other harmful gasses that pollute the atmosphere, such as methane and nitrous oxide. You can estimate your own impact using WWF’s online carbon footprint calculator.
Carbon emissions around the world
We know what a carbon footprint is, but which countries are the biggest culprits? Comparing 2016 data collected by Worldometers, we’ve been able to determine the nations with the greatest CO2e per capita.
Overall, Qatar has the highest carbon footprint per person, with each individual contributing an average 37.29 tonnes of greenhouse gasses per year. Nearby nations Kuwait (25.65 tonnes of CO2e), the UAE (23.37 tonnes of CO2e), and Oman (19.61 tonnes of CO2e) each also place among the top ten nations by CO2e emissions per capita.
Meanwhile, despite producing more greenhouse gasses than any other nation worldwide (10.43 billion tonnes of CO2e), China’s per capita emissions are only 7.38 tonnes of CO2e annually.
Heading west, however, the average American (15.52) and Canadian (18.58) produces over 15 tonnes of CO2e per year, placing the North American nations towards the top of the emissions table.
Finally, while UK carbon emissions total 367.86 million tonnes of CO2e, each Brit, on average, only produces 5.55 tonnes – a better rate than the likes of Italy (5.90), Germany (9.44), Japan (9.70 tonnes), South Korea (11.85 tonnes), and Australia (17.10 tonnes).
The 20 heaviest carbon emitters are:
|
Rank |
Country |
CO2e emissions per capita |
CO2e emissions overall (millions) |
|
1 |
Qatar |
37.29 |
98.99 |
|
2 |
Montenegro |
25.90 |
16.25 |
|
3 |
Kuwait |
25.65 |
101.49 |
|
4 |
Trinidad and Tobago |
25.39 |
34.97 |
|
5 |
United Arab Emirates |
23.37 |
218.79 |
|
6 |
Oman |
19.61 |
87.84 |
|
7 |
Canada |
18.58 |
675.91 |
|
8 |
Brunei |
18.28 |
7.67 |
|
9 |
Luxembourg |
17.51 |
10.14 |
|
10 |
Bahrain |
17.15 |
24.46 |
|
11 |
Australia |
17.10 |
414.99 |
|
12 |
Estonia |
17.02 |
22.4 |
|
13 |
Gibraltar |
16.98 |
0.57 |
|
14 |
Falkland Islands |
16.59 |
0.049 |
|
15 |
Saudi Arabia |
15.94 |
517.08 |
|
16 |
United States |
15.52 |
5,011.69 |
|
17 |
Turkmenistan |
14.00 |
79.28 |
|
18 |
Kazakhstan |
13.01 |
213.92 |
|
19 |
South Korea |
11.85 |
604.04 |
|
20 |
Iceland |
11.81 |
3.92 |
Ways to reduce your carbon footprint
While it might not always feel like it, as individuals, we can make a huge difference when it comes to cutting CO2 emissions. If everyone takes steps to reduce their carbon footprint, we’ll start to see drastic change.
Food
- Eat locally-sourced food where available
Buying food from around the world often means transporting goods via plane, which has a hugely negative impact on the environment. Choosing local produce, instead, cuts down the distance covered by your food and reduces your carbon footprint.
- Try to minimise meat consumption
Countless square miles of natural land around the globe have been destroyed to accommodate cattle farms, meaning there are now far fewer trees to absorb the world’s rising levels of CO2. Reducing your meat consumption (even by just one day a week) can limit the demand on the industry, lower your own carbon footprint, and have a positive impact on the environment.
- Reduce food waste
Food waste accounts for a huge portion of global greenhouse gas emissions. To combat this, it can be useful to plan your meals ahead of time and ensure you’re only cooking what you need. And if you do have leftovers, consider freezing your food rather than throwing it in the bin.
Home
- Install energy efficient appliances
All around your home, there are likely to be appliances that spend much more energy than you might think. For instance, you can use up to 85% less electricity by switching old fashioned bulbs to LEDs. And this is just one way you can be more eco-friendly at home.
- Improve your home’s insulation
Well-insulated walls and windows will help to retain the heat in your home, meaning you won’t need to keep the thermostat on for so long during the day. Simple steps to improve insulation and make eco-living a reality include installing double glazing and filling exposed gaps in your walls.
- Recycle where possible
Not only does recycling reduce the overall amount of waste that we put into landfill, but it also lessens the need to extract raw materials involved in the production of everyday items.
Driving
- Consider alternatives to car travel
Consider taking public transport where possible, such as trains, busses, and trams. This way, carbon emissions are split between more people.
- Drive a low-carbon vehicle
Driving technology has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, and we now have environmentally-friendly low/no-emission cars on the roads. Choosing an electric vehicle can greatly reduce your carbon footprint, with research showing that electric cars emit 66% fewer greenhouse gasses than petrol or diesel alternatives.
- Improve your driving habits
A simple way to lower your CO2 emissions is to avoid unnecessary breaking and accelerating when driving. Instead, it’s far more environmentally friendly to drive at a consistent speed.
Shopping
- Reuse your supermarket bags
Rather than acquiring more plastic bags each time your visit the supermarket, make a point to reuse those from your last trip. This will reduce the amount of excess plastic in circulation.
- Purchase eco-friendly products
Whether you’re buying kitchenware, bedding, or furniture, pay attention to the materials used and whether they’re sourced responsibly. For instance, the eucalyptus silk used to make our luxury bedding is harvested using 95% less water than would be used if we collected cotton.
- Buy from sustainable brands
Keep an eye out for brands that support sustainable projects and manufacture products in an eco-friendly way. For instance, we operate a 100% ethical supply chain and ensure each product we sell is entirely organic. We’re also the only Certified BCorporation bedding company in the world and FSC approved.
Shop Ethical Bedding's Sustainable Eucalyptus Bed Sheet Bundle
Why is sustainability important?
At Ethical Bedding, our mission is to make greener living the standard across the UK, one pillow, duvet, and bed sheet at a time! Not only do our products support the planet, but they’re also specifically designed to last a lifetime and instantly improve your sleep.
Explore our complete collection of environmentally sustainable bedding bundles, or head on over to our blog to discover even more small eco steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint.
