Carbon emissions refer primarily to the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Carbon emissions can also include other carbon-based greenhouse gasses such as methane (CH4), but CO2 is by far the most prevalent and is often used synonymously with carbon emissions.
The most significant source of carbon emissions comes from burning fossil fuels for energy and transportation. Coal, oil, and natural gas burning release large amounts of CO2 as they contain high proportions of carbon. This includes emissions from vehicles, power plants, industrial processes, and residential heating.
When trees are cut down and forests are cleared, the carbon stored in trees is released into the atmosphere as CO2. Forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere, and deforestation not only releases this stored carbon but also decreases the overall capacity of forests to absorb future CO2.
Apart from energy-related activities, several industrial processes emit CO2 through chemical reactions.
Agriculture contributes to carbon emissions in various ways, including through enteric fermentation in animals, which produces methane, and from organic soil decomposition. Additionally, the use of synthetic fertilizers can lead to increased nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, another potent greenhouse gas.
Decomposition of organic waste in landfills produces methane. Methane has a much higher warming potential than CO2, making even small amounts significantly impactful.
According to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, carbon emissions can be classified into three scopes:
These emissions come directly from sources that are owned or controlled by the company, such as emissions from fuel combustion in company vehicles and facilities.
These emissions are associated with the purchase of electricity, steam, heating, and cooling.
These are the result of activities from assets not owned or directly controlled by the reporting organization but related to the organization's operations.
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