What does a carbon footprint measure?

A carbon footprint specifically measures the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions that are directly and indirectly associated with an activity, product, or organization. This measurement encompasses the greenhouse gases produced throughout the lifecycle of a product, from the extraction of raw materials through production, transportation, usage, and disposal. It is a crucial metric for understanding the environmental impact of various actions and for creating strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thereby combating climate change.

While water usage, nutrient content, and energy consumption are important environmental indicators, they do not capture the specific focus on carbon dioxide emissions that the concept of a carbon footprint entails.