Energy Indicators for Sustainable Development: Guidelines and Methodologies International Atomic Energy Agency United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs International Energy Agency Eurostat European Environment Agency

(b) Measuring Methods: CO
2
emissions from fuel combustion are calculated by 
multiplying the energy use for each fuel type by an associated CO
2
emission 
coefficient. Wherever possible, GHG emissions should be measured directly at the 
source of energy use. More commonly, however, measured data are incomplete or 
unavailable. In the absence of measured data, emissions are calculated by multiplying 
some known data, such as coal production or natural gas throughput, by an associated 
emission factor derived from a small sample from a relevant emission source or 
through laboratory experiments. 
(c) Limitations of the Indicator: This indicator shows the quantity of GHGs emitted 
into the atmosphere from energy use only. For some GHGs (e.g. N
2
O), non-energy 
sources (e.g. agriculture) can produce significant levels of emissions. This indicator 

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does not show how much the climate will be affected by the increased accumulation 
of GHGs or the consequent effect of climate change on countries. Data might not be 
available for some sources in some countries. 
(d) Alternative Definitions/Indicators: Total quantities of annual GHG emissions or 
GHG emissions normalized per unit of energy use could be alternative indicators. 
This analysis would provide an indication of the trend of increasing or decreasing 
carbonization of the energy system. There are a number of other gases resulting from 
energy use that indirectly produce GHGs, and these could also be included in the 
scope of the definition. 
ASSESSMENT OF DATA 
(a) Data Needed to Compile the Indicator: Data on total GHG emissions from 
energy sources and the breakdown by component: 
• CO
2
, CH
4
and N
2
O emissions. 
• GHG emissions from energy production and use. 
• GHG emissions from transportation. 
• Total population for normalization of total GHG emissions per capita, unit: 
tonnes CO
2
/capita. 
• GDP in national currency or converted to US dollars ($) using purchasing 
power parities for normalization of total GHG emissions per unit of GDP, unit: 
tonnes CO
2
/$1000. 
It is recommended that, in countries where GHG targets exist, these targets be stated 
in the indicator (although it is recognized that such targets generally apply to all 
emission sources within a country, and not just the energy-related sectors). These 
could be expressed either as a percentage reduction in absolute emissions from a base 
year (as specified by the Kyoto Protocol) or as an intensity target (as for the case of 
the GHG goal of the USA).