CO2Äquivalent

CO2Äquivalent, often abbreviated as CO2e or CO2eq, is a unit used to express the climate impact of greenhouse gases. It represents the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) that would have the same warming effect over a specified period, typically 100 years. Many greenhouse gases exist in the atmosphere, and they all contribute to global warming, but they have different abilities to trap heat and persist in the atmosphere.

To compare the warming potential of different gases, scientists use a metric called Global Warming Potential (GWP). GWP assigns a value to each greenhouse gas relative to CO2, which has a GWP of 1. For example, methane (CH4) has a GWP of around 28-34 over 100 years, meaning one tonne of methane traps as much heat as 28-34 tonnes of CO2 over that period. Nitrous oxide (N2O) has a GWP of about 265-298.

By multiplying the amount of a specific greenhouse gas by its GWP, one can calculate its equivalent CO2 emissions. For instance, emitting one tonne of methane is equivalent to emitting 28 tonnes of CO2e. This standardized unit allows for a straightforward comparison and aggregation of the climate impact of various greenhouse gases emitted from different sources, such as industrial processes, transportation, and agriculture. Governments and organizations use CO2Äquivalent to set emission reduction targets and track progress towards climate goals.

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