The effects of carbon, global warming, and emissions is causing great concern among the earth's leading environmentalists. The carbon footprint is the measure of impact that our usage of products, and fuels that contain carbon dioxide (CO2) has on the environment. Each person's primary footprint is the measure of our direct impact on the environment that is brought about by intentional usage of fuels and products that harm the environment; this includes things like fueling a vehicle and traveling (plane, train, boat) for vacation. And they are having a devastating effect on our environment. Although some have a deeper carbon footprint than others, we can all do our part to lighten our own so that it is not so deep. Due to our environmental state today, many organizations are coming up with ways to live greener. These green initiatives identify ways to reduce the harmful effects on our environment.

Another detrimental impact on our environment are the effects of global warming. In general, the effects of global warming can be reduced by lowering the emissions from heat-trapping gases, or “greenhouse” gases. These gases tend to be caused from burning fossil fuels, which sparked automakers to switch to hybrid, or alternative energy vehicles. The question is what happens if global warming continues? With further depletion of the ozone layer, the planet will get warmer. This will cause turmoil with our climates which in turn would cause heavy downpours, flooding, as well as more droughts and fires. Unfortunately, this could potentially lead to other calamities such as the potential danger to wildlife. If global warming continues, the result could be their eventual demise. This has mostly been monitored in studying the polar bear. Reports have shown that polar bears are being displaced into areas where they can't survive.

Finally, there is the negative impact that emissions are having on our environment. What can be done about these emissions? Well there are carbon offsets. Carbon offsets are a mechanism that companies, governmental entities and individuals can use to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions elsewhere in an effort to compensate for the emissions they produce themselves. The concept behind carbon offsets is that the entity that purchases an offset is helping to balance out, or offset, its own carbon emissions by funding projects that will reduce emissions somewhere else. To improve credibility and bolster consumer confidence, many companies that sell offsets use third-party providers to certify that the projects they support are appropriate and that their offsets are accurately measured.