[MyCO2] Average French Carbon Footprint: 2021 Update

Article written by the team MyCO2, originally published here.

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I. Introduction

In December 2021, based on 2019 data, we published the first A detailed breakdown of France's carbon footprint per person, broken down into issuance categories and subcategories. The methodology used to arrive at this breakdown is based primarily on the Input-Output Tables from the Ministry of Ecological Transition, supplemented by a few impacts not included in the Ministry’s scope: contrails, imported deforestation, and three greenhouse gases not accounted for (HFCs, PFCs, and SF6). Details of the methodology used are available here.

Here, we used the data updated by the Ministry for the year 2021 and refined the methodology used to calculate the average carbon footprint. This publication aims to explain the various methodological changes and to comment on the evolution of this average carbon footprint in France compared to 2019. It should be noted that including data for 2020 does not seem relevant, as that year was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 health crisis.

II. A Methodology That Is Constantly Improving

Since 2019, we have added several factors to the calculation of the average carbon footprint.

The first corresponds to the condensation trails in intermediate consumption. These white trails that we see in the sky can become persistent in an air mass that is cold and humid enough, and then develop into cirrus clouds (ice clouds) depending on weather conditions. This type of cloud has a overall warming effect on the climate. It reflects the radiation emitted by the Earth back toward the Earth, without, however, having an equivalent albedo effect (reflecting solar radiation back into space). Despite uncertainties, the latest studies indicate that taking all non-CO₂ effects into account would amount to doubling or even tripling the radiative impact currently attributed to GHG emissions from aircraft.^[3].

In the previous version of the graph, we had only included the contrails for final consumption—that is, those related to flights taken directly by households. In this version, we also include them in the various consumption categories (other than transportation). They correspond, for example, to commercial flights or business travel by plane. They are thus responsible for 169 kg CO2eq/year/person to which must be added 182 kgCO2eq/year for contrails directly associated with final energy consumption in air travel.

We have also refined the breakdown of emissions related to the imported deforestation^[4] in the “I Eat” and “I Buy” categories. For the latter category, we have in fact allocated a portion of imported deforestation to the “Home” category, for manufactured goods such as furniture. However, this has no effect on the total emissions associated with this category. As a reminder, imported deforestation refers to GHG emissions generated by deforestation occurring abroad but attributable to our consumption.

Regarding the “Je me loge” section, we have added a category for wood and district heating systems, which amounts to 50 kgCO2eq per person per year. In the previous version, these emissions were primarily included in the “gas and fuel oil” category (since some district heating networks run on gas and/or fuel oil) and also in the “home” category for wood (allocated to furniture).

Finally, we added a category to the food section: “Grains and Legumes”. It takes into account all grain-based products (bread, etc.) as well as the consumption of legumes. The associated emissions were previously included under the “Food—Other” category, so we felt it would be more accurate to break this category down further. This new category accounts for 160 kgCO2eq per person per year.

A final methodological change involved subtracting the share of exports for gases outside the ministry’s scope (HFCs, PFCs, and SF6). To avoid underestimating emissions, we had chosen in 2019 not to subtract them. For this 2021 update, we have chosen not to include them, in the interest of consistency across gases.

III. What changes have there been since 2019?

These various developments have made it possible to update France’s carbon footprint for 2021, estimated at 9.9 tCO2eq, and broken down by categories and subcategories in this chart (see chart at the top of the page).

In 2019, we also estimated the average carbon footprint at 9.9 tCO2eq per person. However, this does not mean that the country’s average carbon footprint has remained unchanged for two years. In fact, the comparison is only valid when similar methodologies are used.

The Ministry of Ecological Transition has updated the data for 2019 through 2021. Please note that the figures for the last three years are estimates based on a provisional method, which explains the variations for 2019. For more details on this subject, see the the Ministry's dedicated page.

When we add the additional MyCO2 items (condensation trails, greenhouse gases not accounted for within the ministry’s scope, and imported deforestation) to these figures, we arrive at a revised value for 2019 of 10.2 tCO2eq. We therefore observe a 3% decrease in the carbon footprint between 2019 and 2021.

In addition, since 2019, there has been a decline in domestic emissions (excluding exports) of about 8%, as well as a slight increase in imported emissions (final use and intermediate consumption) of about 1%.

Finally, one of the notable trends is the decrease in emissions related to the “Public Expenditures” category by approximately 100 kgCO2eq/person. An analysis of the input-output tables shows that this reduction in emissions is concentrated in the following three categories: Education, Social Services, and Government and Defense—Mandatory Social Security.