A Guide to Understanding GHG Emissions Data
The average citizen should have as many ways as possible to understand why emissions data is important and how we use this information to shape policies and campaigns that affect communities. We have put together some key points around greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data to aid understanding the basics of what this data is and how we use it.
GHG emissions are by far the most discussed emissions but particulate and chemical emissions are also detrimental to our health and need attention.
Carbon emissions are so prominent that greenhouse gas emissions from other gases are often measured by carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) so we can compare the relative impacts.
Most emissions data will have modelling and uncertainty that is normal for such complex data.
From the UK-focused NAEI to the global-focused Climate Watch, you will find that every organisation has a certain level of modelling and estimation when they present emissions data. Uncertainty is very normal in calculations that don’t involve counting measurements individually or directly from one source.
The quality and usefulness of specific GHG emissions data is often related to the methodology, available resources, and political or social motivation of the source(s) involved in collecting data. This information is usually available on their website or in documentation shared with the data.
Averages, top 5/top 10, and categorical data tell different and important narratives about GHG emissions.
When we look at averages, we trade off understanding some of the worst individual cases of emissions at a local level or point in time for the benefit of a wider trend of the emissions in an area.
When we look at top 5/10, we are often trying to establish the extremes. We can then use this information to profile what makes these top 5/10 areas or sources of emissions as high as they are.
Categorical data, such as by industry, pollutant, or source, helps us identify trends and understand how to talk about GHG emissions data in a way that is relevant to the general population and necessary institutions.
Tying national GHG emissions data to economic data will be valuable for understanding how the nation is progressing towards international climate change targets.
In early April, the UK Environmental Audit Committee called for estimates of environmental sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions to be included in gross domestic product (GDP) figures. The idea is that without these indicators of natural assets given through emissions data, we risk having a false sense of security against the realities of climate change as a nation and society.
More people and organisations are providing tools to help the general public track progress towards environmental goals.
Projects like Climate Action Tracker use a combination of climate policy, emission commitments/targets, current models, and collected data to create more accessible analyses of how well countries and organisations are doing.
