
What are Ocean Dead Zones?
In this article we’ll explore what ocean dead zones are, how they form, and what we can do to try and prevent them.
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.