Followonemissies

Followonemissies is a term that has appeared in Dutch-language discussions on environmental policy and climate accounting to denote emissions that occur as a follow-on effect of a primary action or policy. It is not a formal concept in most climate reporting frameworks, and there is no universally agreed definition.

In practice, followonemissies can refer to emissions generated indirectly as a consequence of a decision. This may include indirect emissions in the supply chain (scope 3), emissions from the production and disposal of goods connected to the action, or emissions arising in subsequent phases of a project that were not captured in initial assessments.

The term is used inconsistently; some writers apply it to any downstream emissions, while others reserve it for unintended or secondary effects that occur after implementation. In academic or policy debates, it is sometimes discussed alongside established accounting tools such as life cycle assessment and indirect emissions accounting.

Examples include a government subsidy encouraging a technology that reduces direct emissions at the point of use but increases emissions in manufacturing; a large infrastructure project that triggers land-use changes releasing methane; or consumer policy that shifts emissions from one sector to another because of changes in energy sources.

Etymology and related concepts: the phrase combines the English "follow-on" with the Dutch "emissies." Related terms include indirect emissions, Scope 3 emissions, and life cycle assessment.