How is a carbon footprint defined?

The definition of a carbon footprint focuses on the total greenhouse gases emitted directly and indirectly by a person, organization, event, or product throughout its lifecycle. This encompasses a broad range of activities, including energy consumption, transportation, manufacturing processes, and waste management.

Understanding the carbon footprint helps to assess the impact of various activities on climate change, as greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide contribute significantly to global warming. By quantifying these emissions, individuals and organizations can develop strategies to reduce their carbon footprints, thus contributing to mitigation efforts against climate change.

The other options, while related to environmental impact, do not capture the comprehensive measure provided by the carbon footprint. For instance, the amount of waste produced (the first option) may contribute to greenhouse gas emissions but does not encompass all emissions. Similarly, energy consumption (the third option) is just one factor influencing the carbon footprint, and soil degradation (the fourth option) relates to land-use impacts but is distinct from greenhouse gas emissions directly expressed in the carbon footprint concept.