Emission reduction
A decrease in greenhouse gas emissions relative to a stated reference.
Example
An efficiency improvement may lower actual fuel consumption and associated emissions.
The catch
The comparison must identify its baseline, boundary and period.
In more depth
Emission reduction, explained.
An emission reduction can mean two different things depending on the reference. Against a base year, it means emissions physically fell. Against a baseline scenario, it means emissions are lower than an estimate of what would otherwise have happened, which can be true even while the source's real emissions rise. Corporate targets usually use the first meaning and carbon credits the second.
Keep reductions separate from removals as well. A reduction slows the flow of gas into the atmosphere, while carbon dioxide removal takes gas back out, and the two carry different weight in net zero accounting. Reductions also differ in durability. Fixing a leak delivers a reduction only for as long as the repair holds and someone maintains the equipment.
In the journal