Carbon footprint

Meaning

A measure of the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted during an industrial or domestic process.

Examples

I just can’t junk my Ford Mustang. I know it’s a gas guzzling muscle car but I’ll try to improve my carbon footprint some other way.

Where did it originate?

UK – late 20th century.

Where is it used?

Worldwide.

Hear the idiom spoken

More idioms about

How the idiom originated

Browse more Idioms

About the Author

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Carbon footprint