NASA reported on August 14 that July 2023 was the hottest month globally in their records. The report is yet another reminder of the international climate emergency that looms over all of our human activities.
On the heels of this report, among others, have been calls for individuals to keep track of and work to reduce or offset their carbon footprint. While individual consumers are not wholly responsible for the climate crisis, everyone does have a carbon footprint.
Currently, the U.S. is one of the leaders in per capita CO₂ output, emitting around 16 tons of CO₂ per year, per person. Australia and Canada also top the list for per capita carbon emissions, while China is the global leader in total CO₂ emissions, although their rate per capita does not measure up to the U.S., Australia, and Canada.
What is the big picture in US greenhouse gas emissions?
When burned at high temperatures, petroleum-based gasoline and diesel fuels release CO₂ into the atmosphere. CO₂ is a greenhouse gas (GHG) that traps sunlight when it gathers in the atmosphere, heating the planet and contributing to rising global temperatures.
According to the EPA, in the United States, transportation contributes the highest rate of CO₂ emissions out of any other defined economic sector, totaling 35% of CO₂ emissions in the country in 2021. The other sectors that burn large amounts of fossil fuels are electricity, industry and residential.
The 35% indicates that 6,340 million metric tons of CO₂ were emitted into the atmosphere by transportation activities in the U.S. in 2021. This number includes “highway and passenger vehicles, air travel, marine transportation, and rail.” However, as a fleet management organization, we are not considering boats and trains.
So, instead, let’s focus on what most people use to get around. The EPA estimates that an average passenger vehicle emits near 4.6 metric tons of CO₂ per year.
But what about your impact? Where does your vehicle, or vehicle fleet, fall in terms of CO₂ output?
Measuring the carbon footprint of your vehicle fleet
To measure the annual CO₂ output of a single vehicle, we recommend using the carbon footprint calculator from Terrapass, Inc. You will need the vehicle’s year, make and model, as well as the total number of miles the car has driven in a single year.
The calculator from Terrapass will prompt you to enter the data and provide you with the annual CO₂ output of each vehicle. Each vehicle, including those of the same make and model, will have slightly different CO₂ outputs based on the above factors. Calculating the total carbon footprint for your entire fleet can become time-consuming depending on the number of vehicles in your fleet, and the number of different make and model vehicles in your fleet.
For your convenience, our team here at Caritas is available to assist you in completing a comprehensive carbon footprint report for your fleet on a complimentary basis.
Carbon offsets
When you visit the Terrapass website, be sure to check out their homepage to learn how you can offset the carbon footprint of your vehicle or vehicle fleet. Carbon offsetting is another effective method for managing your carbon footprint.
On their website, Terrapass presents options for you to invest in sustainable projects around the world to offset the carbon footprint of one vehicle or your entire fleet. For example, if your vehicle's carbon footprint is 4.6 metric tons per year, Terrapass will present options for offsetting that impact that equals the amount of carbon emitted, thus allowing you to achieve carbon neutrality for the particular vehicle.
Comment: I personally visited their website and was surprised to learn that I can offset my carbon footprint for about $4 per month.
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To learn more about how driver behavior affects your fleet’s carbon footprint, click below to read our Guide to Green Fleet Policies e-book. Green driving practices are covered on page 16 of our no-cost, downloadable document.
