What is Emission Factors?
Coefficients that quantify the greenhouse gas emissions produced per unit of activity. Examples include kg CO₂e per kWh of electricity, per litre of fuel, or per pound spent. DESNZ publishes UK-specific emission factors annually.
Why it matters
Using the correct emission factors is critical for accurate carbon reporting. Outdated or incorrect factors can significantly over- or under-state your footprint. UK businesses should use the latest DESNZ factors for domestic activities and internationally recognised datasets for overseas supply chains.
Example
A delivery company uses DESNZ 2025 factors to convert 50,000 litres of diesel consumed into 127.5 tCO₂e, using the factor of 2.55 kg CO₂e per litre.
Related terms
DESNZ Factors
UK government emission factors published annually by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. These conversion factors help UK businesses calculate their carbon footprint from activities like energy use, travel, and waste disposal.
Activity-based Data
Emissions data derived from specific activities such as fuel consumption, distance travelled, or energy used. Activity-based calculations provide more accurate emissions estimates than spend-based methods and are preferred for carbon reporting.
Spend-based Data
A method that estimates carbon emissions based on financial expenditure in different categories. Spend-based calculations apply average emission factors to spending data, providing useful estimates when detailed activity data is unavailable.
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