Policy paper

2012 greenhouse gas conversion factors for company reporting

These conversion factors allow activity data to be converted into kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Documents

2012 greenhouse gas conversion factors for company reporting

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2012 greenhouse gas conversion factors for company reporting (Microsoft Excel)

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Details

July 2013 update: These factors have been superseded by the 2013 factors which are integrated into a new web based tool. A new methodology paper for the 2013 factors was published in July 2013.

Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) can be measured by recording emissions at source by continuous emissions monitoring or by estimating the amount emitted by multiplying activity data (such as the amount of fuel used) by relevant emissions conversion factors.

These conversion factors allow activity data (e.g. litres of fuel used, number of miles driven, tonnes of waste sent to landfill) to be converted into kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). CO2e is a universal unit of measurement that allows the global warming potential of different GHGs to be compared.

These factors are publicly available for use by organisations and individuals within the UK. We do not recommend that they are used by organisations or individuals overseas as the emission factors are specific to the UK and many will vary to a very significant degree for other countries. For example, average factors for transport are based on the composition of the UK fleet and UK-specific occupancy/loading factors where relevant. If your organisation would like to report overseas electricity emissions, you should consult Annex 10.

Further information

Published 30 May 2012
Last updated 31 October 2013 + show all updates
  1. Updated the text in the first paragraph to show updated information from July 2013.

  2. Amended to say that these factors have been superseded by the 2013 factors.

  3. First published.