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.