What is carbon footprint?

Carbon footprint is a subset of ecological footprint, and measures the total set of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual, organization, product or event.  Most often it is expressed in terms of Carbon Dioxide emitted.  The following carbon footprint statistics are eye-opening:

• The average Hungarian person leaves a 5.65 metric ton carbon footprint  per year
• The average for industrial nations is about 11 metric tons per person per year
• The average worldwide carbon footprint is about 4 metric tons per person per year
• The worldwide target to combat climate change is 2 metric tons person per year
• 1.5 metric tons per round-trip trans-Atlantic flight
• 0.18 metric tons per 1000 km driven in an average 5-seater car
• 0.10 metric tons per 1000 km on a small motorbike or on a bus
• 0.02 metric tons per 1000 km travelled by long distance train

While we strive to reduce the footprint of the Grand Final, we would like to take the opportunity that large sporting events offer to educate the public-at-large regarding environmental responsibility.  The road is green for all of us now, and an environmentally responsible event production benefits us all: the sport of triathlon, the event, its participants as well as its host community. 

One way to reduce a carbon footprint is by contributing to the development of alternative projects, such as wind or solar energy, or reforestation through a Carbon Offsetting program. Offsetting balances out greenhouse gas pollution in one place with equivalent greenhouse gas reductions in another place. So for example if you produce 5 tons of carbon emissions through the travel and hotel stays, you can offset this by purchasing 5 tons of carbon credits to reduce your carbon impact to zero (to become carbon neutral).

You too can offset your emissions through our  Carbon Offsetting program and help reduce the footprint of the Grand Final!