Carbon Dioxide Equivalent

A measure which is used to compare the emissions of different greenhouse gases, based on their global warming potential, in relation to carbon dioxide. It is often shortened to CO2-eq or CO2e and often quoted as in million or billion (giga-) tonnes. The use of this term helps in understanding the individual and combined impact greenhouse gases have on the climate. In 2020, the UK’s territorial greenhouse gas emissions (i.e. those from within its borders) were estimated to be about 406 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, whilst the total CO2-eq emissions for the UK were estimated to be 543 million tonnes, so clearly some caution needs to take place when comparing figures as what is included within the data will vary. By contrast the estimated global input of CO2-eq was about 56 billion tonnes (gigatonnes).