What exactly is 1 tonne of CO2?
What exactly is 1 tonne of CO2?

What exactly is 1 tonne of CO2?

What exactly is 1 tonne of CO2?

You probably have a clear idea of what 1 meter, 1 kg or 1 minute entails, but what is 1 tonne of CO2?

CO2 is an invisible gas and is one of the ten primary greenhouse gases (GHG) that causes global warming. Other well-known greenhouse gasses are water vapour (H2O), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). As these gasses tend to be invisible, and therefore, we have only have a vague idea about them. But what does one tonne of CO2 actually represent, and how can we conceptualise it in a way that is meaningful and relatable?

New York (surface area of around 783 km²) covered by 106,849,315 tons of CO2 illustrated by Carbon Visuals

1 tonne of CO2 looks like...

  • A cube of 8.2m by 8.2m by 8.2m

  • A 500m3 hot air balloon

  • 18,380 crates of beer

  • 551,368 1 liter bottles of water

1 tonne of CO2 is emitted by...

  • 1.5 return flights from Berlin to Rome

  • 26 cotton T-Shirts

  • 36 return trips from Amsterdam to London by Train

  • 138 meat-based meals

  • 1,961 vegetarian meals

The environmental consequences of 1 tonne of CO2...

  • 3m2 of Arctic summer sea ice disappears [2]
  • €180,- of damages (e.g., crop loss) [3]
  • 1 tree must live for 100 years [1]

Conclusion

Even though it’s important to note that these are rough estimates, and the actual emissions or sequestration of CO2 can vary depending on various factors, we have one clear takeaway. 1 tonne of CO2 is a significant amount of emissions, and reducing our carbon footprint can make a significant impact on the environment and our efforts to address climate change. Whether it’s driving a fuel-efficient car, using public transportation, or planting trees, every little bit counts. 

However, it can be daunting to start your sustainable journey. Question like “what do I currently emit?" and “how can I reduce my emissions effectively?" pop up. That’s totally understandable, we had the same issues.

With our Holocene-framework, we can provide you with understandable, data-driven insights into your footprint, and give guidelines on how you can reduce your carbon footprint effectively. Curious how it works? Book a free meeting with one of our sustainability experts to discuss how you can become truly sustainable!

start my journey