====== CO2 equivalent emissions ======

[[co2_more|More information]]

The "CO<sub>2</sub> equivalent emissions" are the emissions of gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect. They are calculated with a Life Cycle Assessment ([[lca|LCA]]) approach. The "CO<sub>2</sub>-equivalent emissions" is calculated following the "IPCC 2007 - Global Warming Potential (GWP) 100years" impact assessment method. "IPCC 2007 - GWP 100years" method takes into account the emissions of all the gases contributing to the greenhouse effect and quantifies them as the amount of CO<sub>2</sub> that would have the equivalent global warming potential. For example emitting 1 kg of Methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) is equivalent to 25 kg of CO<sub>2</sub> in terms of global warming potential.

The emissions related to electricity imports are included in the emission balances, while those attributed to the electricity exports are not subtracted. 

The "CO<sub>2</sub> equivalent emissions" legend  includes 7 fossil fuels ("Natural gas", "Fuel oil", "Diesel", "Gasoline", "Kerosene", "Waste" and "Coal") and an entry for "Indirect emissions". The emissions included under the fossil fuel entries derive from the combustion of fossil fuels on the national territory. "Indirect emissions" ($E_{ind}$) are calculated in the following equation, where $E_{LCA}$ are the emissions calculated following the life cycle approach, $E_{comb}$ are the direct emissions from fuel combustion and $E_{ElecImp}$ are the emissions linked to the imported electricity (calculated also with LCA).\\

$E_{ind} = E_{LCA} - E_{comb} + E_{ElecImp}$

The direct emissions from combustion are calculated multiplying each fuel consumption by its respective specific combustion emission index.
 
^ ^Specific combustion emission index [t CO<sub>2</sub>/TJ<sub>fuel</sub>] <sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>^
^Natural gas |  55.0  |
^Fuel oil |  73.7  |
^Diesel |  73.6  |
^Coal |  92.7  |
^Gasoline |  73.9  |
^Waste |  50.4  |
^Kerosene |  73.2  |

[[general_indicators|Go back to general indicators]]

===== References =====
[1] [[http://www.bfe.admin.ch/php/modules/publikationen/stream.php?extlang=de&name=de_728972068.pdf&endung=Die%20Energieperspektiven%20f%FCr%20die%20Schweiz%20bis%202050%20%96%20Anhang%20III|PROGNOS 2012, Die Energieperspektiven für die Schweiz bis 2050 – Anhang III, Energienachfrage und Elektrizitätsangebot in Zahlen; Emissionen]]