What does indirect emissions mean?
Indirect emissions in CBAM are the emissions from electricity production when that electricity is consumed during the production processes of goods.
indirect emissions
A regulatory term referring to emissions from the production of electricity which is consumed during the production processes of goods.
1 official sourcessingle_source
Official definitions by source
CBAM
Regulation (EU) 2023/956 establishing a carbon border adjustment mechanism
emissions from the production of electricity which is consumed during the production processes of goods, irrespective of the location of the production of the consumed electricity.
Reference: Article 3, point 34
Practical application
This term matters when an embedded-emissions calculation must separate electricity-related emissions from the direct emissions generated by the production process itself.
Minespider commentary
For Minespider, indirect emissions is an electricity-consumption evidence term. It helps suppliers and importers separate purchased or consumed power impacts from the facility processes that physically produce the goods.
Common confusions
- Assuming the everyday meaning of indirect emissions is enough without checking the official source definition.
- Using indirect emissions as a loose generic label rather than the narrower meaning used in the source text.
- Assuming indirect emissions can be interpreted without understanding methodology, scope, or lifecycle context.