Carbon handprint
 | This article was nominated for deletion. The discussion was closed on 28 December 2012 with a consensus to merge the content into the article Carbon footprint. If you find that such action has not been taken promptly, please consider assisting in the merger instead of re-nominating the article for deletion. To discuss the merger, please use the destination article's talk page. (December 2012) |
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.
The carbon handprint movement is notable because it spans quantifiable and emotional environmental contributions under the same term. As such it is becoming increasingly common in both industry and classrooms as a tool to engage and stimulate environmental discussion.
First use
While the term has likely been informally used for years, the first known published use was in 2007 by a nonprofit website of the same name.
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.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help)
External links
- Carbon Handprint.org Carbon Handprint.org
- Dan Goleman: Lowering Your Carbon Impact -- What's Your Handprint?—The Huffington Post (December 12, 2012)
- The ‘Hand Print’ of Copenhagen—Sage Journals
- Forget your carbon footprint… what’s your handprint? | Challenging Behaviour | Marketing Blogs
- Dump carbon footprint fears, tackle consumption handprint' - Times Of India—Times of India (April 9, 2011)
- Assess your carbon 'handprint' | Stuff.co.nz—Stuff.co.nz (September 14, 2012)