Thank you for taking the test!
YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT IS
TONS CO2e
adult trees is required.
A Te eredményed a mai eredményekhez viszonyítva:
(átlag = 100%)
A Te eredményed az összes eddigi eredményhez viszonyítva:
(átlag = 100%)
The larger our carbon footprint, the greater is our negative impact on climate change. The average individual carbon footprint in Hungary is 5 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per capita (2020 World Bank data). The EU average is 7.72 tonnes, while the global average is 4.5 tonnes. The global target for 2050 is 1.87 tonnes.
Hungary is roughly in the middle: the average Hungarian was responsible for 5 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in 2020. In comparison, per capita emissions in the same year were 6.7 tonnes in Austria, 5.6 tonnes in Slovakia, 4.9 tonnes in Ukraine, 3.7 tonnes in Romania, 7.7 tonnes in Germany and 8 tonnes in the Netherlands, while less developed countries such as Zimbabwe (0.7 tonnes) had much lower emissions. A record value was measured in Hungary in 1984, when the annual footprint was 8.54 tonnes. A reduction is essential, as a sustainable level would be 1.87 tonnes of CO2 per capita per year.
Trees play an important role in saving energy because they provide shade by lowering the temperature in cities during the summer heat. The shade of trees, together with the water vapour they give off, can reduce temperatures by up to 11-25°C compared to unshaded areas. According to some estimates, the shade of a single tree can save the same amount of energy needed to run 10 air conditioners for average-sized rooms 20 hours a day!
And the energy-saving effect of trees doesn’t even stop in winter; they provide an important windbreak around buildings and reduce heat loss by up to 50 %, which lowers heating costs and energy consumption.
The final result of the carbon footprint is expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent in tonnes. The final result refers to the annual carbon emissions of a person. The average household consumption values were calculated on the basis of data from the Central Statistical Office. Databases from various organisations (Eurostat, ourworldindata.org), reports and peer-reviewed scientific publications served as the data basis. The emission factors were calculated using the WWF UK Carbon Footprint Test, which was largely adapted to Hungarian conditions. Please note: The results calculated by the programme do not replace a comprehensive carbon footprint report by an independent verifier.
TIPS
If you want to reduce your footprint, there’s a lot you can do – here are some ideas from WWF:
Let's talk about climate change
Talking about climate change with friends is difficult, but all the more important if we want to do something for the good cause. The biggest challenge is to address the issue without confusing the interlocutor, without making them feel guilty or even helpless, otherwise there is a risk that they will not want to talk about it in the future.
Try energy-efficient cooking
Not (only) our festive meals should be climate-conscious, but also our daily meals. Prefer quick, simple recipes that don't involve a lot of cheese or red meat. It's even better when we can create delicious dishes from seasonal vegetables and leftovers - such as stir fry dishes, light soups, omelettes and pies.
Switch to LED lighting
The popularity and range of energy-saving LED lights has increased greatly in recent years. Dozens of new models are now available in shops, and their prices have also come down. Time to switch to LEDs!
Travel the eco-friendly way
You don't necessarily have to go abroad for a nice holiday, there is also a lot to discover at home. But if you really want to see the world, take the train to European destinations.
Drive efficiently
Accelerate gently, slow down slowly, shift up as quickly as possible and stick to the speed limit. When buying a car, try to choose one with as little weight as possible.
Share your knowledge
Have you managed to seal the doors and windows yourself? Do you already know which is the best LED light? Share your experiences with anyone who is interested and help others to make their homes "greener".
Ride a bike regularly
Regularity is most important. If you have only travelled a few kilometres by car/bus every day and now do so by bike, this is a significant step towards a low-carbon life!
Drink from a reusable bottle
Get a reusable water bottle and keep it filled at all times. This way you can save money and protect the environment.
Eat more locally grown or prepared food and less red meat
Taste the difference, feel better and support the Hungarian economy!
Produce as little waste as possible
Shop packaging-free. Things you no longer need can be valuable to others. There are many virtual markets in the online world, try selling, giving away or trading them.
Have you ever heard of carbon offset?
Carbon offsetting is any activity that aims to compensate for the carbon emissions of an individual or company through emission reductions. Carbon offset projects are for example:
- Renewable energy projects, such as the construction of solar or wind power plants to replace coal-fired power plants.
- Energy efficiency improvements,g. through better insulation of buildings to reduce heat loss or the use of more efficient delivery vehicles.
- Carbon sequestration in the soil or in forests, e.g. through afforestation
Consumers can buy carbon offsets on a voluntary basis to compensate for their emissions. Offsets help keep the environment cleaner and reduce the impact of pollution. It promotes the use of renewable energy sources, which leads to lower consumption of fossil fuels. Offsets create new habitat for wildlife and help restore lost biodiversity.
One of the reasons for global warming is that two-thirds of the world’s forests have disappeared since the beginning of industrial civilisation. To double the size of forested areas, we would have to plant about 200 trees per person and thus contribute to the sequestration of man-made CO2.
“Carbon neutrality is an inevitable element of environmental sustainability.”
(Rampasek, László A.)