1.3.14—Carbon and water footprints
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Objective
- 1.3.14
- Level
- HL
Keep Carbon and Water Footprints Separate
Carbon footprint measures greenhouse gases in CO₂-equivalent; water footprint measures direct and indirect freshwater use, usually in cubic metres.
Use the unit and pressure to identify the measure. Carbon tracks climate forcing; water tracks freshwater demand, including water embedded in goods.
A cotton shirt has a water footprint from growing and processing fibre and a carbon footprint from energy and transport.
Carbon footprint; water footprint uses a volume such as cubic metres.
Carbon footprint is not carbon dioxide alone, and water footprint is not only tap water.