Carbon handprint
The term Carbon Handprint is an informal term used to describe environmental issues. Intended as the emotional opposite to the popular carbon footprint, the Carbon Handprint is a measure of the positive contribution an individual or entity makes to environmental issues.
As with Carbon Footprints, the term is often used to cover environmental issues not related to the generation or consumption or Co2 and fossil fuels.
First use
While the term has likely been informally used for years, the first known published use was in 2007 on a none profit website of the same name by UK based Steven Lownds.
The term is being increasingly used in media and academic circles to describe environmental issues [1]
Quantifiable vs Emotional measurements
A statement of a Carbon Handprint can be either a measurement on the same scale as Carbon Footprints [2] or a pledge such as "I will use public transport more". Both are equally valid and several entities have been developed to encourage both expressions of the basic concept.
Relation to Carbon offsetting
As a measure of positive contributions environmental issues, Carbon Handprints could be viewed as a measure of Carbon offsetting - specifically the environmental benefits of projects such as solar or wind energy or reforestation. However, the term is not owned by any individual entity and the community is largely self regulating in deciding appropriate use of the term.
See also
References
- ^ "Time Magazine: Handprints, Not Footprints ES&T, 2012, 45 (9), pp 4088–4095 DOI: 10.1021/es102221h". Retrieved 4 March 2012.
- ^ "Measuring Carbon Footprints ES&T, 208, 45 (9), pp 4088–4095 DOI: 10.1021/es102221h". Retrieved 15 September 208.
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External links
- Carbon Handprint.org Carbon Handprint.org