CO2eben

CO2eben is a coined term that appears in some discussions of carbon accounting. It does not correspond to a formal, internationally standardized metric, and there is no single agreed definition.

Conceptually, CO2eben refers to a balance or leveling idea for carbon dioxide impacts. In some uses it describes the notion of equalizing or balancing emissions across sources or sectors by applying offsets or negative emissions so that the remaining emissions per unit of activity are “evened out.” In other contexts it may be used as a per-capita or per-economic-activity normalization to enable comparisons. Because there is no standard definition, practice varies widely.

Measurement and calculation for CO2eben are not fixed, given its informal status. Possible methods include calculating emissions per person or per unit of energy or economic output and then applying a balancing factor to reach a target such as equalized per-capita emissions or equalized emissions intensity. Some proponents frame CO2eben within net-zero planning as a shorthand for achieving a balanced residual impact after offsets.

Relation to other metrics: CO2eben is distinct from CO2e, which aggregates different greenhouse gases into a common unit, and from atmospheric concentration targets or conventional net emissions accounting. It is presented more as an abstract balancing concept than as a standardized measurement.

Critique and status: Critics argue that the lack of standard definition hampers comparability and can mislead policy or business decisions. As of now, CO2eben remains an informal or emergent concept rather than a widely adopted metric.

See also: CO2e, carbon footprint, life-cycle assessment, net-zero.