Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator

Carbon Dioxide or CO₂ Equivalent* Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is the primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activities. CO₂ is naturally present in the atmosphere as part of the Earth's carbon cycle. The main human activity that emits CO2 is the combustion of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil) for energy and transportation, although certain industrial processes and land-use changes also emit CO₂. Link

Carbon Greenhouse gas emissions may be expressed in terms of a quantity of the gas itself (e.g., 5 tons of methane), an equivalent quantity of carbon dioxide (e.g., 25 tons of CO2 equivalent), or in terms of carbon (e.g., 6.8 tons of carbon). Carbon is often used as the unit of measurement when tracing emissions through the carbon cycle. To convert a quantity of carbon to the equivalent quantity of carbon dioxide, multiply by 3.67.

CH₄ - Methane Methane (CH₄) is a greenhouse gas emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil, or from the decomposition of organic waste in municipal landfills and the raising of livestock. Methane is also emitted by natural sources such as wetlands. Pound for pound, the impact of CH₄ is 25 times greater than CO₂ over a 100-year period. Link

N₂O - Nitrous Oxide Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a powerful greenhouse gas that occurs both naturally and due to human activities. Major sources include farming practices that add nitrogen to the soil (e.g., using fertilizers), burning fossil fuels, and some industrial processes. The impact of 1 pound of N₂O on warming the atmosphere is almost 300 times that of 1 pound of CO₂. Link

Hydrofluorocarbon gases Fluorinated gases come from human-related activities. They are emitted through their use as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (e.g., as refrigerants) and through industrial processes such as aluminum and semiconductor manufacturing. In general, fluorinated gases are the most potent and longest lasting type of greenhouse gases emitted by human activities. LinkHCFC-22HFC-23HFC-32HFC-125HFC-134aHFC-143aHFC-152aHFC-227eaHFC-236faHFC-4310meeR-404AR-407AR-407CR-410AR-507A

Perfluorocarbon gases Fluorinated gases come from human-related activities. They are emitted through their use as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (e.g., as refrigerants) and through industrial processes such as aluminum and semiconductor manufacturing. In general, fluorinated gases are the most potent and longest lasting type of greenhouse gases emitted by human activities. LinkCF4C2F6C4F10C6F14

SF₆ - Sulfur Hexafluoride Fluorinated gases come from human-related activities. They are emitted through their use as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (e.g., as refrigerants) and through industrial processes such as aluminum and semiconductor manufacturing. In general, fluorinated gases are the most potent and longest lasting type of greenhouse gases emitted by human activities. Link