What exactly is calculated?

The greenhouse gas emissions generated by the activities of a specific unit are calculated, e.g. by people (individual, family and school class calculators), by an institution (e.g. office calculators and school calculators), or by an activity (e.g. travel calculators).

Not only CO₂ emissions are calculated, but also emissions of other climate-impacting gases such as methane and nitrous oxide. These emissions are in turn converted into CO₂ equivalents, which is why the focus in the communication is on CO₂, although other greenhouse gases are also included. For example, 1 g of methane is approximately 25 times more climate-impacting than 1 g of CO₂. 1 g of methane therefore equals 25 g of CO₂ equivalents.