Emission factor datasets and updates

Selection of datasets integrated in Carbon+Alt+Delete

At Carbon+Alt+Delete, we value transparency, precision, and reliability in carbon accounting by utilizing datasets from trusted and official sources in our emission factor model. In order to achieve this, we provide a selection of integrated datasets, that satisfy our internal criteria of completeness, consistency, recent and relevant. We draw our data from respected databases such as the UK Government's BEIS, Ecoinvent, ADEME, IEA, and AIB, among others.

Updates to emission factor databases

We continuously update our emission factor databases to reflect the latest scientific knowledge and regulatory changes. Regular updates to emission factors are crucial for maintaining the integrity and accuracy of carbon accounting. By recalculating inventories, we ensure that data from different projects and years are consistent with each other and over time. This process may involve recalculating past emissions when more precise factors become available or corrections are needed.

How to make use of the latest emission factors

Any emission factor used from an integrated source on Carbon+Alt+Delete (not a custom emission factor), will be updated whenever more recent information is made available on the platform. Even if that source is not yet available when the information is logged.

For example, a UK.Gov emission factor with reporting date 05/04/2025 will draw its emission factor from the 2025 version of the UK.Gov GHG emission factors, even if that document was not available yet at the time of entry. In the in-between time, the most appropriate available factor will be used (in this case from the 2024 UK.Gov publication).

Note that this is different from Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) databases, like Ecoinvent, which have an inherent versioning system in their publication methods. For these, the initial version choice will remain unchanged even if other versions are added to the platform later.