Carbon 101
How our consumption causes emissions and what we can do about it
Where do carbon emissions come from?
Burning fuel releases carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere — in a car engine, a gas furnace, a power plant. Growing food and making things also produce emissions, often in less obvious ways. We measure all of this in kilograms or tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e), where 'equivalent' means we've expressed other warming gases like methane in terms of the CO₂ that would cause the same effect (one tonne is 1,000 kilograms, or about 2,200 pounds).
Different choices produce very different amounts of pollution. An inefficient car might emit more than taking several flights. Home heating in a cold climate can dwarf both of those. Fast fashion may produce many times the emissions of buying clothes from thrift stores — but may still be less than eating a meat-heavy diet. A calculator lets you see your actual numbers so you can focus your efforts where they matter.
What is carbon removal?
Carbon removal means pulling CO₂ out of the atmosphere and locking it somewhere permanently. Companies are doing this in a few ways: injecting compressed CO₂ underground, burying organic material before it can decompose, or reacting CO₂ with minerals to convert it permanently into rock.
This is different from a carbon offset, which typically tries to avoid future emissions (for example by protecting a forest). Unlike an offset, removal directly cancels out emissions.
Find a provider
These companies — and others you may find — sell high quality, tech-based removal designed to keep carbon out of the atmosphere for centuries.
- ClimeworksDirect air capture · IcelandPick the “technology focus” tier for the highest-quality removal.
- HeirloomDirect air capture · USA
- Vaulted DeepBiomass burial · USA
Not affiliated; please do your own research before purchasing.
What's the ratio?
The carbon removal ratio is what this calculator tracks: tonnes removed ÷ tonnes emitted. Once you have started removing CO₂, you can see which is more efficient for improving that ratio — reducing emissions or removing additional CO₂.