environmental impact, definition of

Carbon Footprint refers to the the total greenhouse gas emissions that result from a person, organization, product or service over a given time.

It tends to act as an umbrella term for any attempt to measure greenhouse gas emissions and as a result can refer to simply the emissions that result from a single activity, such as flying; the emissions that result from an organization or building over the course of a year; or the full lifetime emissions of a product or organization, including emissions from the supply chain or disposal of resources.

While carbon footprints colloquially refer to the amount of CO2 emitted, the UK Carbon Trust endorses a wider definition and considers all six of the Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gases - Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide, Hydro fluorocarbons, Perfluorocarbons, and Sulfur hexafluoride - when measuring a carbon footprint.

• Eco Tourism, how to minimise your effects
  Eco tourism is about enjoying remote places and destinations whilst minimising your environmental or cultural impact. This article goes into some detail on this subject.
• Green Christmas, is it possible?
  Christmas and being green don't often go together, we provide advice on reducing your environmental impact to be more Green for Christmas.

• Second hand building materials
  Second hand building materials offer an excellent way to reduce environmental impact, we show you how.

• A mega energy project would bring 8,000 workers to the outback. What are the odds of it going ahead?
  Plans lodged with WA's Environmental Protection Authority this month will bring wild transformation to an ancient desert landscape. Experts, who note the proposed scale is "incredible", say the idea has a lot going for it.
• Thousands of hectares of koala habitat are cleared every year, including for renewable energy projects
  We examined approved and proposed projects under federal environment legislation to look at how much koala habitat is being slated for destruction across several industries.
• Climate Change Weekly #514: 🦇 Evidence Mounts that Green Tech Is Wiping Out Species 🐦
  I and other Heartland Institute scholars have written before about the bird, bat, and marine mammals that industrial wind is killing around the world. The Heartland Institute has also written concerning industrial solar’s threat to desert species,...
• How do you cool a reactor and does Australia have enough water for nuclear power?
  Nuclear power relies on millions of litres of cooling water. The federal opposition's plan to build reactors on seven sites raises questions about water use and the effect on the environment.
• Nuclear plants are thirsty. Can the driest inhabited continent on Earth support them?
  Nuclear power relies on millions of litres of cooling water. The federal opposition's plan to build reactors on seven sites raises questions about water use and the effect on the environment.  
• Massive SunCable solar project spanning more than 12,000 hectares gets environmental tick in NT
  A project to develop "the world's largest renewable energy precinct" in a remote stretch of the territory receives crucial environmental approvals, but a final investment decision for the $30 billion-plus project is not expected until 2027.
• Rural residents told to 'get over' look of powerlines as Victoria's renewable targets face barriers
  Andrew Balfour has seven transmission towers on his farm. He doesn't recommend it to others — but sites for new power infrastructure will be needed across the state as renewable energy projects take off.
• University clears hundreds of trees to build solar farm
  La Trobe University's plan to clear trees for a solar farm in Melbourne's north has raised questions about renewables coming at the cost of native habitat.
• Is it worth investing in a battery for your rooftop solar? Here's what you need to know before you buy
  In some cases, adding a battery to your rooftop solar system will pay off. But to be sure, households need information about many factors — and there's no single reliable place to find it, write Asma Aziz and Daryoush Habibi.
• Going from gas to all-electric is cheaper and greener. Here's how governments can help more of us make the switch
  Switching from gas to all-electric has significant financial and environmental benefits, but many households face hurdles that make it hard or impossible to do...