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The CO₂ balance measures net climate-relevant emissions — a key basis for ESG, climate strategies, and sustainable investment decisions.
The CO₂ balance includes all climate-relevant emissions caused by an activity, a product, or a company — typically measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents (tCO₂e). The aim is to determine net CO₂ emissions, meaning emissions minus avoided or offset emissions.
For a CO₂ balance, both direct and indirect emissions are taken into account — including emissions from upstream supply chains or purchased electricity. Relevant greenhouse gases such as methane or nitrous oxide are converted into a common unit (CO₂e) based on their global warming potential. This creates a complete picture of the climate footprint.
• Scope 1: direct emissions (e.g. from fossil fuels used within a company)
• Scope 2: indirect emissions from purchased electricity or heat
• Scope 3: other indirect emissions (e.g. supply chains, business travel, waste disposal)
• Companies: CO₂ balance as a basis for decarbonization strategy and ESG reporting
• Products: life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental footprint
• Power generation: comparison of CO₂-intensive and renewable energy sources
• Climate protection projects: offsetting through CO₂-removal measures (e.g. reforestation)
• tCO₂e: tonnes of CO₂ equivalents as a standardized unit of comparison
• Net-zero target: situation in which all emissions are fully avoided or offset
• CO₂ reduction potential: savings potential through measures such as PV, storage, and efficiency
• Carbon footprint: total CO₂ balance of a product, process, or company
The CO₂ balance is a key management tool for climate protection — it shows where emissions arise and how they can be reduced or offset. Especially in the energy sector — for example when evaluating PV systems, battery storage systems, or load peaks — it provides the basis for sustainable decisions and investments.
