A carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by an individual, event, organization, service, place or product. It is released as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).
Greenhouse gases, including the carbon-containing gases carbon dioxide and methane, can be emitted through the burning of fossil fuels, land clearance and the production and consumption of food, manufactured goods, materials, wood, roads, buildings, transportation and other services.
How to limit your carbon footprint?
Understanding your carbon footprint can help limit the impact of your consumption on the environment.
Small changes on an individual basis, can make a big difference in the long run, Our behaviour impacts global warming from transport, food, clothing and waste.
Calculate your carbon footprint
Gravesham's carbon footprint
Local authorities in England have been requested by Government to measure and report their GHG emissions from their own estate and operations, as previously reported under the best value regime.
The council has continued to report against its total gross greenhouse gas emissions against the three specific ‘scopes’ for categorising the emissions:
- Scope 1 – All Direct Emissions from the activities of an organisation or under their control. Including fuel combustion on site such as gas boilers, fleet vehicles and air-conditioning leaks.
- Scope 2 – Indirect Emissions from electricity purchased and used by the organisation. Emissions are created during the production of the energy and eventually used by the organisation.
- Scope 3 – All Other Indirect Emissions from activities of the organisation, occurring from sources that they do not own or control.
Total gross greenhouse gas emissions for Scope 1, 2 and 3 for the last financial year (2021-22) was 2211.21 tCO2e (tons of carbon dioxide equivalent – taking account of methane and nitrous oxide as well as carbon dioxide emissions).