What does tCO2e mean?
If you read climate accounting, you may have come across the term “tCO2e” and wonder what it is? This device, tonnes of CO2 equivalents, is used to calculate and express greenhouse gas emissions. CO2, or carbon dioxide, is one of several greenhouse gases that affect the climate. To get an overall picture, the seven main greenhouse gases are reported according to The GHG protocol:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2): The best-known greenhouse gas, mainly emissions from fossil fuels and industry.
- Methane (CH4): Emissions from agriculture, waste landfills and oil and gas extraction. Has a significantly higher heating effect than CO2.
- Nitrous oxide (N2O): Comes from agricultural activities and industry, as well as the burning of fossil fuels. Has a long lifetime in the atmosphere.
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs): Used in cooling and freezing systems and as foaming agents. Has a high global warming potential (GWP).
- Perfluorocarbons (PFCs): Used in the electronics industry and as coolants. Has a very long lifetime in the atmosphere.
- Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6): Used in electrical insulation systems. Has an extremely high GWP and long life.
- Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3): Used in the production of electronic components. Has a very high GWP.
Global Warming Potential (GWP)
Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas captures in the atmosphere over a specific period of time, compared to CO2. This makes it possible to compare the impact of different greenhouse gases on global warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) uses a 100-year period to calculate GWP values.
For example:
- Methane (CH4): Has a GWP value of 21. This means that 1 kg of methane has a 21 times greater warming effect than 1 kg of CO2 over 100 years.
- Nitrous oxide (N2O): Has a GWP value of 298, making it much more potent than both CO2 and CH4.
- HFCs, PFCs, SF6, and NF3: These gases have GWP values that can be thousands of times higher than CO2, making them extremely powerful in small amounts.
Why use tCO2e?
By converting the emissions of all greenhouse gases into CO2 equivalents (tCO2e), we can compare and sum up their total climate impact. This provides a uniform method for quantifying and communicating greenhouse gas emissions, which is essential for effective climate management and reporting. The advantage of using tCO2e is that it simplifies the comparison of emissions over time and between different businesses or sectors.
In climate accounting, all greenhouse gases are converted into CO2 equivalents, so that they can be added together. The unit is usually calculated in tonnes and written as tCO2e. By using tCO2e, businesses can easily track their overall greenhouse gas emissions and assess the effectiveness of their measures to reduce emissions.
Emisoft uses the unit tCO2e for calculating climate impact in the software GHG123.
GHG123
Emisoft uses the unit tCO2e for calculating climate impact in the software GHG123. Our software is designed to make it easy to measure, report and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the latest standards and requirements, including CSRD.
- Exact calculations: We use advanced calculations to ensure accurate and reliable calculations of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Simple reporting: Structured reporting that makes it easy to meet legal requirements and standards.
- Valuable insights: Gain insight into your company's climate impact and identify areas for improvement.
If your company wants assistance with calculating greenhouse gas emissions, take contact!
