The "individual carbon footprint" is a concept that has become ubiquitous over the last two decades. Does it actually help us decarbonize, or is it a neoliberal distraction?
I think it is only helpful as an inquiry, like a jumping off point for individuals to start tracing the larger picture of the (un)sustainability of the various systems we're embedded in. Otherwise, overall harmful for many of the reasons you describe -- as well as the way in which some people think they can absolve themselves / do their part simply by reducing personal ambitions / buying offsets.
I think it is only helpful as an inquiry, like a jumping off point for individuals to start tracing the larger picture of the (un)sustainability of the various systems we're embedded in. Otherwise, overall harmful for many of the reasons you describe -- as well as the way in which some people think they can absolve themselves / do their part simply by reducing personal ambitions / buying offsets.