Skip to main content

carbon dioxide equivalent

Acronym: CO2e

Definition Source References

A way to place emissions of various radiative forcing agents on a common footing by accounting for their effect on climate. It describes, for a given mixture and amount of greenhouse gases, the amount of CO2 that would have the same global warming ability, when measured over a specified time period. For the purpose of this report, greenhouse gas emissions (unless otherwise specified) are the sum of the basket of greenhouse gases listed in Annex A to the Kyoto Protocol, expressed as CO2e assuming a 100-year global warming potential.

IPBES-IPCC co-sponsored workshop on biodiversity and climate change United Nations Environment Programme, 2021.