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How Much Carbon Dioxide Does a DISCOVERer Produce?

See how DISCOVER’s editorial and creative directors compare to the US and the world.

Mar 31, 2008 5:00 AMNov 12, 2019 4:56 AM

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The average American creates roughly 22 tons of carbon dioxide every year. That is twice as much as someone in the U.K. and nearly 200 times the amount put out by a Tanzanian. Emission numbers for Patrice and Michael, DISCOVER’s editorial and creative directors, respectively, are shown at right. Patrice, a New York City urbanite, walks to work, does not own a car, and leans on services like her dog walker. Mike commutes 46,000 miles annually by bus and drives a gas-guzzling Expedition but shares emissions from his home in the Poconos with three others.

Numbers in Tons of CO2 Annually

PatriceMichael

Food

2

6

Goods

3

1

Services

2

1

Transportation

2

2

Housing

6

3

World AverageNational AveragePatrice's TotalMichael's Total

5221533

Figures derived from the CoolClimate

Calculator, a program from the University of California at Berkeley.

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