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An Analysis of the Compatibility Between Popular Carbon Footprint Calculators and the Canadian National Inventory Report

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  • Elizabeth Arif

    (School of Environmental Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
    Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Anupama A. Sharan

    (School of Policy Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Warren Mabee

    (School of Policy Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
    Department of Geography and Planning, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada)

Abstract

Personal lifestyle choices contribute up to 75% of national emissions and yet the greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories included in the National Inventory Report (NIR) of Canada provide limited insight on these choices. Better insight can be found using carbon footprint calculators that estimate individual emissions; however, they vary in regard to their input parameters, output data, and calculation methods. This study assessed five calculators, which are popular with the public, or compatibility with the Canadian NIR. A quantitative scoring matrix was developed to assess the output depth, academic proficiency, and effectiveness of the calculators to inform lifestyle changes, alongside NIR alignment. The results showed that the calculator with the overall highest cumulative score across all the comparative criteria was the one offered by Carbon Footprint Ltd. The other calculators that scored highly include CoolClimate Calculator and Carbon Independent. The potential of the calculators in regard to informing low-carbon lifestyles can be improved through the incorporation of more depth in terms of capturing the purchase information of goods and services and providing detailed secondary information to users, including mitigation strategies and carbon offset options. The main driver of incompatibility between the calculator tools and the NIR was the different approaches taken to the emissions inventory, with the NIR using a territorial framework and the calculators being consumption driven. The outcomes of this study demonstrate a global need for the evolution of NIR structuring to increase its relatability with citizens and for the improved standardization of publicly available tools.

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth Arif & Anupama A. Sharan & Warren Mabee, 2025. "An Analysis of the Compatibility Between Popular Carbon Footprint Calculators and the Canadian National Inventory Report," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-21, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:14:p:6629-:d:1705925
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peters, Glen P., 2008. "From production-based to consumption-based national emission inventories," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(1), pages 13-23, March.
    2. Mario Burgui-Burgui & Emilio Chuvieco, 2020. "Beyond Carbon Footprint Calculators. New Approaches for Linking Consumer Behaviour and Climate Action," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-14, August.
    3. Emilio Chuvieco & Mario Burgui-Burgui & Anabel Orellano & Gonzalo Otón & Paloma Ruíz-Benito, 2021. "Links between Climate Change Knowledge, Perception and Action: Impacts on Personal Carbon Footprint," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-19, July.
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