Emissionsprofile

An emissions profile is a representation of how greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are distributed across sources, activities, or lifecycle stages for a product, organization, region, or energy system. It combines quantitative data such as total emissions and emission intensity with a breakdown by category, geography, or phase of the value chain to provide a clear view of where emissions originate and how they change over time.

Common formats categorize emissions by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol scopes: Scope 1 (direct emissions from owned or controlled sources), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased energy), and Scope 3 (all other indirect emissions in the value chain). An emissions profile may also be organized by sector (transport, energy, industry), fuel mix (coal, gas, renewables), or lifecycle stages (upstream, core operations, downstream).

Data and methodology rely on activity data, emission factors, and, in some cases, life cycle assessment (LCA) techniques. Sources include corporate sustainability reports, national inventories, regulatory filings, and supplier data. Profiles may reflect current emissions and projected trends, and they often include uncertainty estimates and methodological notes.

Purposes of an emissions profile include benchmarking performance, identifying decarbonization opportunities, informing policy or procurement decisions, and supporting disclosures such as product carbon footprints or corporate sustainability reporting. They facilitate comparisons across entities or products and help track progress toward emission reduction targets.

Limitations include data gaps, varying methodologies, and differences in geographic or sectoral boundaries, which can affect comparability. Regular updates and transparent documentation improve the usefulness and reliability of emissions profiles.