Mathematics of carbon footprints.

Carbon footprint Carbon footprint is intended to be a measure of the ecological impact of people or events. It is a calculation of total emission of greenhouse gases, typically carbon dioxide, and is often stated in units of tons per year. There is no universal mathematical method or agreed-upon set of variables that are used to calculate carbon footprint, though scientists and mathematicians estimate carbon footprints for individuals, companies, and nations. Many calculators are available on the Internet that take into account factors like the number of miles a person drives or flies, whether or not he or she uses energy efficient light bulbs, whether he or she shops for food at local stores, and what sort of technology he or she uses for electrical power. Some variables are direct, such as the carbon dioxide released by a person driving a car, while others are indirect and focus on the entire life cycle of products, such as the fuel used to produce the vegetables that a person buys at the grocery store and disposal of packaging waste.