CO₂ budget explained

Generally, we always associate the terms wallet, account, and budget with one thing: money. In Emyze's case, however, we're talking about the CO₂ budget. That's right - not only is our money account limited, but so are our CO₂ emissions - at least, when it comes to meeting climate goals. You can read more about the CO₂ budget at Emyze below, but first, we want to give you enough background information so that you know why the CO₂ budget exists in the first place and how much budget we still have available.

There is a tangible relationship between CO₂ emissions and global warming on the basis of which it is possible to estimate the progress of climate policy targets. The budget value indicates the amount of emissions that can still be emitted from a certain point in time so that a specific target temperature is not exceeded. Based on the Paris Climate Agreement, there are different temperature values according to which the budget can be calculated at global, national and sectoral levels. There are two main paths to this temperature limitation. In the first, the climate target is just met but never exceeded. In the second, the temperature temporarily exceeds the climate target before dropping again and stabilizing (overshoot pathway). Our climate cannot wait, because it will not wait.

You may be wondering why there are so many different CO₂ budgets. That's because there are different temperature targets, each with a varying likelihood of achieving them.

The latest IPCC report, released in April 2022, shows that researchers see little chance of limiting warming to 1.5°C, as long as only the current pledges are met and nothing more is done. According to the report, it is imperative that everyone be involved in climate action, contribute actively, and pull in the same direction.
All in for less emissions!

In 2015, almost all countries, including Germany, agreed on the maximum target of 1.5° C and the minimum target of 1.75° C at the Paris Climate Conference. According to the calculations of the German Advisory Council on the Environment (SRU), the annual CO₂ budget in Germany is 2.5 metric tonnes of CO₂ per person. So if each living person in Germany emitted only 208 kg of the greenhouse gas per month, we would have achieved the climate target of 1.75° C (at least with 67% probability) by 2050, at the national level. To achieve global climate neutrality, targets must be addressed and met worldwide. One thing is clear: less is more!

Emyze takes the more realistic but still ambitious minimum target of 1.75°C as a guideline for calculating the monthly budget. We often talk about an annual budget. However, in order to get a better overview, the budget at Emyze is set on a monthly basis.
The budget functions as a comparative value and should finally make your emissions more tangible. Just like with calorie counter apps, it is not possible to track every single gram that you eat - in our case, emit. The goal is rather to develop a feeling for the CO₂ emissions behind the different products and activities.