How Big Oil Created the Carbon Footprint

By Ayush Deshpande December 10, 2025

Typically, one's impact is defined by lives changed or notable achievements. Yet, at each meal or car drive, a less visible influence grows: the carbon footprint. A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases generated by a person, group or activity. In the face of rapid climate change, the term has become increasingly widespread in education and the media. 

The carbon footprint builds upon the earlier idea of the ecological footprint, created by ecologist Mathis Wackernagel and Canadian professor William Rees in 1994 to quantify the impact a person or community has on the environment. It measures how much biologically productive land and water a population needs to produce its resources and absorb its waste. The carbon footprint stems from a similar ideology, except it focuses solely on carbon emissions rather than all environmental impacts. Particularly, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s report in 1990 and 1992, which outlined how human activities emitted greenhouse gases and were warming the globe, would bring much attention to the issue of carbon emissions and carbon footprint.  

While the scientific community used the term carbon footprint earlier on, it only entered the mainstream in the early 21st century through promotions by the oil and gas company British Petroleum (BP), partnered with Ogilvy & Mather, a New York-based advertising firm. Aimed to rebrand BP’s image as more environmentally conscious in the face of increased awareness of global warming, they created the idea of an individual carbon footprint—the idea that everyday people, not companies, should cut down on their contributions to global warming—per the Conservation Law Foundation. Thus carbon footprint was not born out of a desire to spread environmental awareness but rather devised by large corporations to direct the blame for climate change away from themselves and onto ordinary people. In reality, BP is the sixth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, per the Corporate Governance Institute. 

“I have always felt like we are taught to fix the environment by changing our own lifestyle because that feels more ‘doable.’ However, that focus hides how much more damage big companies cause. It makes people blame themselves when the biggest responsibility is not really on individuals,” Senior Abishek Sunkam said. 

Krio Moon Art

As part of the rebranding, BP created the first carbon footprint calculator for its website, allowing users to calculate the amount of carbon they release into the atmosphere. The calculator considers several factors in its calculations, including energy used at home, during transportation, and waste. This has encouraged large cultural and lifestyle shifts. To be more environmentally conscious, many people buy electric cars, which, according to the United Nations, can save up to two tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. Others choose to unplug unused electronics, saving 900 kilograms per year, or adopt a vegetarian diet, saving up to 500 kilograms per year. Collectively, these individual acts of climate consciousness can have a large impact on climate emissions, though they are dulled in the face of carbon emissions by large companies. 

“Corporations like BP have shifted our attention toward individual behavior and away from the massive emissions tied to corporate operations. Personally I have felt guilty many times over whether my choices are environmentally friendly, meanwhile I tend to forget the larger systemic issues that stay in the background,” Junior Jayden Li said. 

Though climate change can’t be traced back to a single emitter, and environmental sustainability cannot be practiced by only individuals, large corporations have contributed to carbon emissions and have shifted public perceptions on individuals' responsibility to protect the environment. Ultimately, the combat against climate change is an ongoing quest that requires the participation of not just individuals but all those involved in resource consumption and pollution. 

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About the Contributor

Ayush Deshpande

Staff Writer

Ayush Deshpande is a junior at Leland High School, he is a staff writer for the charger account. He is very interested in Formula One, Legos, Star Wars, and when not at school or playing video games he is often found at K1 Speed or his freinds houses.

Krio Moon

Artist

Krio Moon is a junior at Leland and an artist for The Charger Account. Outside of school, she likes to play tennis, watch superhero movies, and read books.