Why do we report tCO2e? What is it and conversion factors?
What is tCO2e?
You may have noticed crp.eco refers to tCO2e across the board. Why is this?
The "e" stands for equivalent.
This is because of two key points:
- Not all emissions are Carbon (CO2)
- Not all emissions are equal
For example Methane (CH4) is approx. 28 times more powerful as a greenhouse gas (i.e. worse for the planet). With Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF₆) being a whopping 25,200x worse 😮.
Is my business responsible for these other emissions?
Yes, almost certainly. For example, Sulfur Hexafluoride is used in electrical transmission infrastructure therefore even renewable energy will be responsible for some emissions of this gas. You read that right, renewables still have emissions!!
Do I need to know all the conversions?
For many businesses you may not need this information directly, just be aware that when you are entering in emissions from electricity statements or other invoices that the number they are supplying you with should be in tCO2e, it is worth being aware that your emissions are not just carbon.
Conversion table
For your convenience we have included a conversion table to demonstrate the different gasses and how they compare with CO2