New tool links fossil fuel emissions to specific damages
The Carbon Impacts Tracer quantifies CO2 emissions into measurable damages such as excess heat deaths, coral reef loss, and crop production losses. It was developed by Australian universities and research bodies.
A new open-source tool, named Carbon Impacts Tracer, aims to make the impacts of fossil fuel emissions more tangible.
The tool translates significant carbon dioxide emission amounts into measurable damages, such as estimated excess heat-related deaths in Europe, crop production losses, or coral reef bleaching.
It has been developed by climate experts from Australian National University and the University of New South Wales, in collaboration with the Australian Research Council and the Lethal Humidity Global Council.
Carbon Impacts Tracer presents the impacts of emissions across eight categories, including excess deaths, coral loss, crop and glacier loss, loss of labor hours, and increased human exposure to heat stress and poverty.
The creators state the tool will increase accountability for both fossil fuel companies and governments that approve such projects, utilizing advancements in attribution science to more clearly demonstrate harmful effects.