Calculate Your Carbon Footprint – Take Action for a Greener Future

What Is the Cost of CO₂?

The carbon footprint of activities (like driving, eating meat, or flying) can be linked to the price of CO₂ through carbon taxes or carbon trading markets.

Who Pays those taxes?

💰 Heavy polluters (oil, gas, power plants, airlines) pay first, but they pass the cost to:
📈 Consumers (through higher fuel, energy, and product prices)
🏛️ Governments may return money to people through rebates

The cost of CO₂ emissions depends on carbon markets and taxes:

EU Carbon Market (ETS): ~€70–€100/ton CO₂
New Zealand: ~$50–$85/ton CO₂
Japan: ~$50–$65/ton CO₂
California Carbon Market: ~$30–$40/ton CO₂
Canada: $80/ton (2024) → $170 by 2030
Sweden: $137/ton (one of the highest)

Examples:

🚗 Driving a Gasoline Car (2.76 tons CO₂/year)

1. EU price (€80/ton CO₂):
   • 2.76 tons × €80 = €220 per year in theoretical CO₂ cost
2. Canada price ($80/ton CO₂):
   • 2.76 tons × $80 = $221 per year

🔹 Impact: If CO₂ prices increase, gas could become more expensive, pushing people to switch to EVs or public transport.

✈️ One Round-Trip Flight (NYC-London, 1 ton CO₂ in economy)

• EU price (€80/ton CO₂):
  • 1 ton × €80 = €80 extra per ticket
• Canada price ($80/ton CO₂):
  • 1 ton × $80 = $80 extra per ticket

🔹 Impact: Airlines might pass this cost to passengers, making flying more expensive over time.

🥩 Eating 100 kg of Beef (6 tons CO₂/year)

• EU price (€80/ton CO₂):
  • 6 tons × €80 = €480 per year
• Sweden price ($137/ton CO₂):
  • 6 tons × $137 = $822 per year

🔹 Impact: Countries with high carbon taxes might make meat significantly more expensive, encouraging plant-based diets.