View source for Carbon footprint

The '''carbon footprint''' estimates the quantity of greenhouse gases emitted to satisfy consumption of goods, services and infrastructure, wherever production takes place.

== For digital technology ==

Manufacturing dominates. Extracting materials, producing semiconductors and assembling devices account for most emissions over a device's life, well ahead of electricity used in operation.

This has a direct consequence: extending the useful life of a device reduces its footprint far more than any improvement in its energy efficiency.

== Measuring ==

* [[GHG Protocol]] provides the international accounting method, structured in three scopes ;
* [[ISO 14064]] makes the declaration auditable ;
* the French [[Bilan Carbone]] method provides an operational approach ;
* [[Life cycle assessment]] extends the analysis beyond carbon to other impacts.

Carbon alone gives an incomplete picture. Material and water footprints follow different logics and do not vary together.

== See also ==

* [[GHG Protocol]] · [[ISO 14064]] · [[Life cycle assessment]] · [[Sustainable IT]] · [[Data centre]]

[[Category:Frameworks and methods]]