ACT position on Avoided Emissions

Are referred as “avoided emissions” of an organization the emission reductions achieved by its activities, products and/or services, when these reductions are achieved outside its scope of activity. These last years, more and more companies claim avoided emissions to highlight their efforts to the global decarbonization effort. However, this concept is not always well known and understood. Furthermore, it is given a level of importance that might appear excessive regarding the huge efforts, considering how quickly and dramatically companies have to reduce the emissions falling in the scope of their activities, in these intensive sectors.

This note clarifies the ACT position on the topic and explains how avoided emissions are addressed within the sectoral assessment methodologies.

*Emissions refers here to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.