HOW BIG IS YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT?

There are many online carbon footprint calculators available aimed at providing an estimate of the emissions potentially generated by specific activities and/or operations. Online carbon footprint calculators are mainly for individuals, small businesses and events organisers. They are aimed at balancing simplicity (for user friendliness) and detail (for integrity) to estimate annual carbon footprints for a limited scope.

The following South African online carbon footprint calculators have been enumerated by Rhodes University:

• Food & Trees For Africa Carbon Calculator – using Global Greenhouse Gas Reporting Protocols
• Project 90×2030 – personal household carbon footprint calculator
• Food and Trees for Africa – carbon calculator
• CO2balanace – carbon dioxide emission calculators
• BP – non-flash carbon footprint calculator

Several international online carbon footprint calculators are also available:

• UK government initiative
• Calculator endorsed by the World Resources Institute, a US-based centre for policy research and analysis
• European Commission’s initiative

There is currently no universally-agreed principle and/or standard to base calculations on and online carbon footprint calculators are based on different standards and guidelines and with different scopes. However in the South African context, the South African National Standard (SANS) 14064-1:2006 edition 1, especially part 1 (“Specifications with guidance at the organisation level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals”), should guide the design of any online carbon footprint calculator.

The applicability and accuracy of an online carbon footprint calculator will also depend on the conversion factors that it uses, some of which might differ between countries. Therefore, it is recommended to use an online carbon footprint calculator which uses conversions factors relevant to your country.

However, an online carbon footprint calculator can be a very useful tool, mainly for individuals, NGOs and small companies, to evaluate in a cost-effective and user-friendly way their average carbon footprint related to specific activities and to enable them to take the necessary actions to reduce their Greenhouse Gas emissions. It is a tool which is favoured for the compilation of a voluntary carbon footprint, and it is generally considered more as an awareness tool than a management tool per se. It should not be used to quantify the reductions associated with Greenhouse Gases mitigation projects for use as offsets or credits.

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Disclaimer

• The information provided here is intended to be used for general information purposes only and, as such, should not be considered as a substitute for expert advice on specific issues.
• Gautrain and the Gautrain management Agency is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness or functionality of the “online carbon footprint calculator(s)”, incorporated and/or mentioned on this website.
• Links to third party websites and their associated “online carbon footprint calculators” contained on the website are provided for convenience only. Gautrain and the GMA does not control such websites and is not responsible for their contents.
• The inclusion of the abovementioned links does not imply any endorsement of associated “online carbon footprint calculators” and other information/material on those websites or any association with their owners/operators.