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

The recent removal of Canada’s national consumer carbon tax has eliminated a tool that could help guide meaningful reductions in national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Personal lifestyle choices contribute up to 75% of national emissions and yet the GHG inventories included in the National Inventory Report (NIR) of Canada provide a limited window into these choices. Carbon footprint calculators, widely used to estimate individual emissions, vary in their input parameters, output data, and calculation methods. This study assessed five current calculators for compatibility with the NIR to determine which might best support it. A qualitative literature review identified criteria for evaluating each calculator’s ability to inform lifestyle changes and align with the NIR. The selected calculators were then scored quantitatively based on the type and depth of their output data. Results revealed significant disconnects between calculator outputs and the NIR. Most calculators used a consumption-based approach, while the NIR follows a territorial framework. Additionally, many calculators lacked critical data categories, such as the purchase of goods and services, needed to fully understand individual carbon footprints. Overall, the calculator with the strongest opportunity to work in tandem with the NIR was determined to be that offered by Carbon Footprint Ltd.