Exiobase 3.8 emission factors

Question

Hello

I compared Exiobase 3.8 emission factors in openLCA and Climatiq Exiobase dataset and there is a huge difference.

For example in openLCA I find 0,15 kgCO2/euro and in Climatiq 0,36 kgCO2/euro for the same product and the same nation (Italy).

Someone cloud explain why?

Thank you

Answer 1

I have not worked with exiobase, but have you checked the same versions? The latest exiobase on Nexus is version 3.8.2 with actual (measured) values up to 2019. This is different to the previous version in Nexus with forecasted (not measured) values from exiobase up to 2021 (see the blog-post here: https://www.openlca.org/exiobase-3-8-2-has-been-updated/). I don't know which values Climatiq takes for their database.

Comments

Thanks a lot.
Climatiq has data measured up to 2019 they do not have forecasted values.
I imported version 3.8.2 in openLCA but I'm not confident to use these data....probably I underestimate emissions using these data.

Answer 2

Conrad Spindler

Here an example for oil seeds.

In openLCA 1€ spent for oil seeds is equal to 1,949 kgCO_2e but in Climatiq is equal to 0,3146 kgCO_2e.

In this case Climatiq underestimate emissions but data are taken from Exiobase 3.8.2 as you can read in administrative information (which is not available in openLCA).

Answer 3

To the last answer:

I don't know how you got 1.949 kg CO2 eq. but I get around 0.249 kgCO2e/EUR. The total emissions with IPCC 2021 factors are equal to ca. 2.49E5 kgCO2e with a default reference flow of 1 Million EUR (see the screenshot attached). Differences of 26% from the exiobase result of 0.249 kgCO2e/EUR compared to the 0.316 kgCO2e/EUR. from Climatiq could be due to the fact that Climatiq is applying currency rates and inflation rates to the initial monetary value (just a guess).

https://www.climatiq.io/docs/guides/understanding/currency-support

Answer 4

See screenshot attached.

This refers to 1€ spent and direct calculation from process oil seed IT. Global warming is 2,141 kgCO2.

Comments

Because your impact categories do not include "global warming (IPCC 2021)" I could see that you are not using the latest version from Nexus. The latest Nexus version is 3.8.2 with the reference year (actual measured data) from 2019. That's why I was asking in the beginning if you are using the same version as Climatiq.

You are using the old exiobase 3.4 version, that's why of course the calculated values are different to the 3.8.2 version.

In version 3.4 the result will be 2.14 kgCO2e/EUR.

In version 3.8.2 the result will be 0.249 kgCO2e/EUR for IPCC2021 (AR6) or 0.238 kgCO2e/EUR for IPCC2007 (AR4) which corresponds to the "standard" GWP100 impact category in exiobase without the IPCC 2021 note in the category name.