I’m seeing some fields in tCO₂ and some in tCO₂e, what is the difference?

By admin, 13 January, 2026
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Answer

TCO2e, which stands for tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, is a measurement of the total greenhouse gasses emitted, expressed in terms of the equivalent measurement of carbon dioxide when the respective Global Warming Potential (GWP) values and time horizons of each greenhouse gas included in an inventory has been accounted for. In contrast, tCO2 (or tonnes of carbon dioxide) solely reflects carbon dioxide emissions and does not account for any other greenhouse gasses. Note that CO2 emissions can also be presented in units of CO2e, where 1 tCO2 = 1 tCO2e.

For a given emissions field in a given year, the NZDPU displays the emissions figure in either—but not both—tCO2e or tonnes of tCO2.

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Using the NZDPU Site
Question

I’m seeing some fields in tCO2 and some in tCO2e, what is the difference?