Kliimabilansi

Kliimabilansi is a term used in Estonian climate discourse to denote the climate balance of a defined system, typically the net difference between greenhouse gas emissions and removals over a given period. The balance is usually expressed in CO2-equivalents (CO2e) and can refer to national, regional, corporate, or product-level boundaries.

The term combines kliima (climate) and bilansi (from bilanss, balance). It has appeared in policy documents, sustainability reports, and academic writing as a compact label for climate accounting results, analogous to “carbon balance” or “net emissions” in English.

Calculating a kliimabilansi requires selecting a boundary (territorial, production-based, or consumption-based), a time horizon, and the greenhouse gases to include. Emissions are summed from sources such as energy use and industry; removals come from sinks like forests, soils, or technical solutions. Results are typically expressed in CO2e using IPCC GWP values.

Kliimabilansi is used to monitor progress toward climate goals, support policy design, and inform corporate reporting. It can, however, differ markedly depending on chosen boundaries and methods; uncertainties, potential double counting, and the treatment of indirect effects are ongoing challenges.

See also: carbon footprint, carbon accounting, GHG Protocol, IPCC guidelines, carbon budget, net-zero.