Carbon Footprint
Get to grips with Carbon Footprint for GCSE Chemistry with this free worksheet and full mark scheme — Foundation and Higher exam-style questions with worked answers for AQA, Edexcel and OCR. A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product, service or event.
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These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA, Edexcel and OCR specifications. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.
Topic overview
The carbon footprint is the total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product, service or event.
It can be reduced by increasing the use of alternative energy supplies, improving energy efficiency, using carbon capture and storage, using carbon taxes and licences, and by carbon off-setting through tree planting.
However, there are practical difficulties. Reductions may be limited by disagreement over the scientific evidence, by economic considerations and the cost of change, by a lack of international cooperation, and by individual lifestyles that people are reluctant to change.
Revision notes
What it measures
The carbon footprint is the total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product, service or event.
It includes everything from obtaining raw materials to disposal, not just the emissions during use.
How to reduce it
Increase the use of alternative energy supplies such as renewables. Improve energy efficiency.
Use carbon capture and storage. Introduce carbon taxes and licences. Use carbon off-setting, for example by planting trees to absorb carbon dioxide.
Why reductions are difficult
Some people disagree over the scientific evidence.
Economic considerations and the cost of making changes are significant. There is a lack of international cooperation, and individuals are often reluctant to change their lifestyles.
Key points
- Carbon footprint covers the full life cycle.
- It includes carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
- Alternative energy reduces the footprint.
- Carbon capture and storage can be used.
- Carbon off-setting includes tree planting.
- Economic cost limits reductions.
Worked examples
Example 1
Define carbon footprint. [2 marks]
Model answer
The carbon footprint is the total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted (1 mark) over the full life cycle of a product, service or event (1 mark).
Example 2
Give three ways the carbon footprint of a product could be reduced. [3 marks]
Model answer
Using alternative energy supplies such as renewables (1 mark). Improving energy efficiency during manufacture (1 mark). Using carbon capture and storage, or carbon off-setting such as planting trees (1 mark).
Example 3
Give two reasons why reducing carbon footprints is difficult. [2 marks]
Model answer
The economic cost of making the necessary changes is high (1 mark). There is a lack of international cooperation, and individuals are often reluctant to change their lifestyles (1 mark).
Common mistakes
Saying carbon footprint counts only carbon dioxide.
It includes other greenhouse gases too.
Considering only the use phase.
It covers the full life cycle, from raw materials to disposal.
Giving only reduction methods.
Questions frequently ask for the difficulties as well.
Saying carbon off-setting removes the need to reduce emissions.
It compensates for emissions but does not prevent them.
Exam tips
- Include other greenhouse gases in your definition.
- Say full life cycle explicitly.
- Learn several reduction methods and several difficulties.
- Give economic and social reasons for limited progress.
Key terms
- Carbon footprint
- Total greenhouse gases emitted over a full life cycle.
- Carbon capture
- Storing carbon dioxide rather than releasing it.
- Carbon off-setting
- Compensating for emissions, for example by planting trees.
- Life cycle
- All stages from raw materials to disposal.
Related topics
Written and reviewed against the current AQA, Edexcel and OCR specifications. Spotted an error? Let us know.