Adopt the right reflexes to reduce your carbon footprint

“For the planet, every action counts.” You've probably heard this phrase many times. Whether from political or activist speeches, it shows above all that to preserve the Earth, we must adopt the right reflexes. Our consumer choices, our travel, or our investments can make a real difference. With Helios, the greenest current account in France, we explain how you can take concrete action to reduce your carbon footprint every day!

What is a carbon footprint?

🔍 Not to be confused with...

The ecological footprint: (calculated in hag: hectares) global) it is an indicator of the level of pressure exerted by humans on the Earth.
The energy footprint: (calculated by adding CO2 consumption and emissions) is the impact of energy consumption on energy resources from activities and people who consume energy.

According to INSEE (National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies), the carbon footprint “represents the quantity of greenhouse gases (GHG) induced by a country’s domestic final demand (consumption by households, public administrations and non-profit organizations and investments), whether the goods or services consumed are produced on the national territory or imported”. In short, what does it mean? The carbon footprint is an indicator that expresses each stage of a product's life cycle, from production to final consumption, in carbon dioxide equivalent or CO2e.

Essential for understanding the real impact of an economy, the carbon footprint highlights the growing importance of rethinking our consumption patterns! For information, the EU (European Union) produced 3 billion tonnes of CO2 in 2022, which represents nearly 8% of global emissions. In the same year, the French carbon footprint was 623 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent!

Faced with these ever more impressive figures, reducing our carbon footprint is becoming a priority to respond to the climate emergency and move towards a development model that is more respectful of planetary boundaries.

The 2-ton target, a course to maintain

According to the Ministry of Ecological and Inclusive Transition, in 2022, the average carbon footprint of a French person is estimated at 9.2 tonnes of CO2. This figure, even if it shows an additional effort to be made to passing the 2-ton per person mark marks a 19% decrease compared to 1995. For comparison, a person living in the United States has a carbon footprint of 16.2 tons. A German, meanwhile, emits 9.1 tons of CO2, 45 times more than a Malagasy with barely 0.2 tons.

So where does this 2-ton target come from? It is a hopeful trajectory, aligned with the IPCC scenarios, to raise everyone's awareness of the ecological transition. If we reach 2 tonnes of CO2 emissions per capita by 2050, we will be on track to limit global warming to +1.5 degrees Celsius and meet the climate commitments set by the Paris Agreement.

⁉️ Are you familiar with the 2tonnes workshop?

2tonnes is a team committed to accelerating the ecological, social, and happy transition. How?By offering immersive workshops to imagine the future and act together for the ecological transition! So, are you up for the challenge?

What is the carbon footprint of a French person made up of?

In 2022, according to data and statistical studies “For climate change, energy, the environment, housing and transport” from the Ministry of Territories, Ecology and Climate, the carbon footprint of a French person is made up of of several key elements:

• 2.9t of CO2eqcome from transport;
• 2.0t of CO2eq from housing;
• 2.0t of CO2eq from food;
• 1.6t of CO2eqfrom the purchase of goods and services;
• 0.7t of CO2eqfrom services linked to the State (administration, health, education, etc.).

💡 Did you know?

Ademe, the ecological transition agency, allows you to calculate your carbon footprint in just 10 minutes, as well as your water footprint.

Calculate yourcarbon footprint!

Our savings and their impact

When we think about our carbon footprint, the link with savings is not innate. And yet, it is a polluting sector! Our money, invested in banks or in life insurance policies, contributes to the increase in global warming.

💡 Did you know?

The 4 largest French banks – namely BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, Société Générale and the BPCE group – still direct 70% of their energy financing towards fossil fuels.

Calculate the carbon footprint of your bank account!

Fortunately, today, alternatives exist to create a new sustainable, fair and planet-friendly economy. Enerfip, as a responsible investment platform dedicated to energy transition projects, encourages you to invest your money in virtuous sectors such as photovoltaique, wind power, methanisation or even ... href="https://lempreinte.enerfip.eu/2024/10/17/hydrolien/" target="_blank" id="">hydrolien. By investing in this type of project, you're contributing to change!

Of course, we're not the only solution that aims to be more environmentally friendly! helios is also committed to cleaning up banking and simplifying your daily life. As the greenest current account in France, your deposits with helios help finance projects that are 100% geared toward the ecological transition. Seen as an ecobank, helios aims to democratize its approach so that, for tomorrow, the standard is one of more ethical and sustainable finance.

So, what are you waiting for to open the most ecological bank account in France with our partner helios? To encourage you to take the plunge, benefit now from 9 months free with our exclusive Enerfip X helios offer!