Estimate your annual CO₂ emissions and see where to make the biggest impact.
Global average: ~4 tonnes CO₂/year. UK average: ~5.5 tonnes. US average: ~14 tonnes. Australia: ~15 tonnes. To keep global warming below 1.5°C, the target is around 2.5 tonnes per person by 2030.
For most people: flights (a single long-haul return flight can add 1.5–3 tonnes), diet (meat-heavy diets produce 2× more than vegan), and home heating (gas boilers are a major source in the UK). Switching to an EV and heat pump makes a large dent.
You can offset through certified schemes (Gold Standard, Verified Carbon Standard). However, most climate scientists advise reducing first, then offsetting the unavoidable remainder. Offsets should not replace behavioural change.
This provides a reasonable estimate based on average emissions factors. Real footprints vary by your local energy grid's carbon intensity, specific vehicle efficiency, food sourcing, and more. It's a useful starting point for identifying the biggest areas to target.
Recycling helps but has a relatively small impact compared to diet, flights, and heating. The biggest individual actions are: eating less meat, flying less, switching to an EV, and installing a heat pump or solar panels.