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What is a Tonne?
A primer on the parlance of
Greenhouse Gas Accounting
Is a Ton a Tonne?
The word "Ton" is common in general usage, but not in
intrinsic understanding. When someone says "This weighs a
ton," they usually mean some indeterminately large amount.
When asked what a ton actually is, a frequent response we
hear is "2,000 pounds"
Yes, A ton IS 2,000 lbs! This contrasts with a tonne, which is
defined in metric terms of 1,000 kg or 2,204.6 lbs.
What's the deal with CO2e?
If you would count your greenhouse gas
the measure you must use is mass
and when we talk, that's you and me,
discuss in Tonnes of CO2e
In order to permit precise discussion, The Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change has introduced the idea of CO2
equivalency – where greenhouse gases of different kinds can
be measured in terms of an amount of CO2. Thus, even though
a process may not emit any carbon dioxide, the emission
contributions to global climate change can be relayed with
reference to carbon dioxide.
What weighs a tonne?
A Volkswagen Beetle (1963)
Actually, this Beetle weighs a bit less than a tonne, but it is close!
What weighs
a tonne?
A Mazda2
(2010)
What weighs a tonne?
The water in a small swimming pool or hot tub
How to visualize a
tonne of CO2.
A tonne of CO2
occupies over
19,000 cubic feet,
and if boxed in,
would need a 27
foot (8.22 meter)
per side cubic
container.
What might a tonne of CO2
look like?
The volume contained in 13,200 * 17" balloons
What emits a tonne?
Round trip:
16,158 km /10,040 miles
(ICAO)
One person’s share of a round trip flight
from Rome, Italy (FCO) to Atlanta, GA (ATL)
What emits a tonne?
About 115 gallons of gasoline,
20 or so of this type of container
What emits a tonne?
Driving about 2,400 miles in a passenger car.
(U.S. Fleet Avg 20.3mpg):
The equivalent of a round trip from
San Antonio to Orlando
What emits a tonne?
10 x 100 watt bulbs running for 7 weeks, in a grid that is
powered by coal-generated electricity.
What absorbs a tonne?
1 acre of pine forest sequesters
about one tonne each year