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CO2e represents ‘carbon dioxide equivalent’. It’s a measurement of the total greenhouse gases emitted, expressed as the equivalent measurement of carbon dioxide.
As a whole, CO₂e is a standard unit used to compare the impact different greenhouse gases (GHGs) have on the climate by expressing them as the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) that would produce the same warming effect over a specific time period – this time span usually refers to 100 years.
People often forget that carbon dioxide isn’t the only common greenhouse gas, but that other gases such as methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and fluorinated gases actually trap heat more effectively than CO₂ itself – despite the fact that they exist in smaller quantities. Ultimately, CO₂e allows us to measure and report all these gases via one singular unit to help simplify the process of comparing and contrasting environmental impact.
CO₂e is calculated by using Global Warming Potential (GWP) factors, which describe how much heat a specific gas traps in the atmosphere compared to CO₂.
For example:
Converting all of these gases into one number, expressed in CO₂e, allows businesses, governments, and individuals to compare emissions and set more personalized, robust reduction targets.
CO₂e is important as it simplifies the process for climate reporting by combining all greenhouse gas emissions into one comparable metric. Think of how we use calories as a single unit to quickly compare and contrast the health of food, even if calories do not express the same picture – the same goes for CO₂e.
No, CO₂e can include emissions from agriculture, waste, industrial processes, and more.
Yes, having a lower CO₂e means that the individual or organization is successfully mitigating their impact on climate change.
CO₂e is a standard in corporate sustainability reports, carbon footprint calculations, and government climate targets.
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