Carbon Footprint 101: Understand And Calculate Your Impact

Carbon Footprint for Dummies: What Is It, and How to Calculate it?

What you'll learn

What a carbon footprint is and why it matters.

How to calculate their carbon footprint for personal and business activities.

How to identify the main sources of carbon emissions.

The different types of emissions (Scope 1, 2, and 3) and how they affect the environment.

How to apply emission factors to measure environmental impact.

Strategies to reduce their carbon footprint, including: Improving energy efficiency, Adopting renewable energy sources and Making sustainable lifestyle choices.

How to take actionable steps towards reducing their carbon footprint and contributing to a more sustainable future.

Requirements

There are no specific requirements or prerequisites for taking this course. It's designed for beginners, so no prior knowledge of carbon footprints, sustainability, or environmental science is needed. All you need is an interest in learning how your actions impact the environment and a desire to understand and reduce your carbon footprint. The course will guide you step-by-step, providing all the information and tools you need along the way!

Description

Curious about how your daily activities impact the environment or eager to help your business reduce its carbon footprint? This beginner-friendly course is perfect for anyone looking to understand and manage carbon emissions. Whether you're an individual or business owner, this course will guide you through the fundamentals of carbon footprints, the greenhouse effect, and step-by-step processes for calculating emissions across Scope 1, 2, and 3.You’ll learn:What a carbon footprint is and why it mattersHow greenhouse gases contribute to climate changeHow to calculate your carbon footprint using real-world examplesActionable strategies for reducing emissions and setting science-based targetsBest practices for reporting emissions transparently and avoiding greenwashingAdditionally, we’ll dive into essential topics like carbon offsetting and continuous improvement, helping you make sustainable decisions that align with both personal and corporate environmental goals. You'll gain a clear understanding of how to set reduction targets, measure progress, and ensure your business stays on track with global climate commitments.The course also includes hands-on practice through a final exercise where you'll calculate the carbon footprint of a fictional company. This practical application will solidify your understanding and prepare you to implement these strategies in real-world scenarios.By the end, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and tools to make informed, sustainable choices. Enroll now and start reducing your environmental impact today!

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 Welcome and Course Overview

Section 2: The Basics of Carbon Footprints

Lecture 2 What is a Carbon Footprint?

Lecture 3 Understanding Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Lecture 4 The Greenhouse Effect

Section 3: Emissions Categories (Scopes)

Lecture 5 Scope 1: Direct Emissions

Lecture 6 Scope 2: Indirect Emissions from Purchased Energy

Lecture 7 Scope 3: Other Indirect Emissions

Lecture 8 Scope 3 Real-world example : Apple

Section 4: How to Conduct a Carbon Footprint Calculation?

Lecture 9 Step-by-Step Carbon Footprint Calculation

Lecture 10 Examples of emission calculation for different sectors

Section 5: Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

Lecture 11 Setting Reduction Targets

Lecture 12 How to set realistic, science-based emission reduction targets?

Lecture 13 Absolute vs. relative emission targets

Lecture 14 Action Plans for Emission Reduction

Lecture 15 Transition plans and setting KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to track progress

Section 6: Reporting and Communicating Your Carbon Footprint

Lecture 16 Why and How to Report Emissions

Lecture 17 Importance of transparent reporting

Lecture 18 Internal and external Communication

Section 7: Carbon Offsetting and Continuous Improvement

Lecture 19 What is carbon offsetting, and how does it work?

Lecture 20 Limitations of relying solely on offsets

Lecture 21 Continuous Improvement in Carbon Management

Section 8: Final Exercise : Carbon Footprint Calculation for a Random Company

Section 9: Conclusion and Next Steps

Lecture 22 Recap of Key Learnings

Lecture 23 Encouragement for Further Learning

Individuals curious about their environmental impact,Business owners and professionals,Environmental enthusiasts and activists,Beginners with no prior knowledge,Students and professionals in environmental fields,Corporate sustainability officers or managers,General audience looking for practical ways to reduce their carbon footprint