Carbon Footprint Calculator

A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (primarily CO2 and methane) generated by your actions, measured in tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) per year. It includes direct emissions (driving, heating) and indirect emissions (food production, goods manufacturing). The average American produces about 16 tonnes CO2e per year — more than twice the global average of 7 tonnes.

Burning one gallon of gasoline produces about 8.9 kg (19.6 lbs) of CO2. A car averaging 28 MPG driving 12,000 miles/year uses 428 gallons and emits roughly 3.8 tonnes CO2 annually. Switching to an EV on average US grid electricity reduces this by 50–70%. An EV in a state with clean energy (like Washington) can reduce emissions by 90%.

Diet is one of the highest-impact individual choices. Beef production generates 20–30 kg CO2e per kg of beef. A meat-heavy diet produces roughly 3.3 tonnes CO2e/year; a vegan diet produces about 1.5 tonnes — a difference of nearly 2 tonnes per year, equivalent to not driving for 5 months. Reducing beef consumption even by half significantly lowers your footprint.

A mature tree absorbs roughly 22 kg (48 lbs) of CO2 per year. To offset 16 tonnes CO2 (US average) would require about 727 trees growing for a full year. This highlights that tree planting alone cannot solve climate change — it must be combined with emissions reductions. Focus on reducing your footprint first, then offset the remainder through verified carbon offset programs.