Is it possible to have a negative carbon footprint?

Answer 1

There have been learned people who have asserted this is not possible.

There have been others who assert that it is.

I am one of the later.

Please consider this: Suppose you build a generating plant that burns methane gas leaking from a landfill to produce electricity. It burns methane against atmospheric oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water. For each molecule of methane used, there is one molecule of carbon dioxide produced. Each molecule of methane is 37 times as powerful as carbon dioxide as a global warming gas. Therefore, the burning of methane that would otherwise be released reduces global warming, giving the process a negative carbon footprint.

In fairness, I should point out that for each molecule of methane, there will be two atoms of water, in addition to the carbon dioxide, in the output. Water vapor is also a greenhouse gas. But the water produced would can be condensed immediately without any environmental effect, so I am not considering it in the calculation.

Answer 2

Technically, it is possible to have a negative carbon footprint by removing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than you emit. This can be achieved through actions like planting trees, using renewable energy sources, and reducing waste. However, achieving a consistently negative carbon footprint can be challenging for most individuals or organizations.