Avoided Emissions Platform (AEP)

Core Features

AEP combines a curated database of climate solutions with an interactive calculation tool and publicly accessible methodology. It supports both company-level assessments and investment decisions involving low-carbon technologies.

• Avoided Emissions Calculation: Estimates emissions avoided by a product, service or technology relative to a reference alternative, providing results expressed in CO₂ equivalents.

• Climate Solutions Database: Contains predefined avoided-emissions factors and models for 65 climate solutions across eight sectors, providing a common starting point for assessments.

• Customizable Calculations: Allows users to select a climate solution and adjust relevant parameters to reflect its specific characteristics rather than relying exclusively on generic emissions factors.

• Annual & Forward-Looking Assessments: Supports year-on-year and prospective calculations, allowing users to assess historical contributions and expected future avoided emissions.

• Harmonized Assessment Methodology: Uses a transparent framework informed by established carbon accounting guidance and an independent scientific committee, addressing issues such as reference scenarios, rebound effects, assessment periods and allocation across value chains.

• Investment & Climate Impact Analysis: Provides comparable avoided-emissions metrics that financial institutions can use when evaluating climate solutions, identifying investment opportunities and assessing portfolio contributions to decarbonization.

Closing Insights

Officially launched in April 2025, AEP was developed through a collaboration involving Quantis, I Care by BearingPoint and financial institutions including Mirova, Robeco and Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management. The initiative received support from asset managers and owners representing more than US$4 trillion in assets under management, alongside corporate participants and data providers.

AEP addresses an important distinction in climate accounting: avoided emissions represent reductions enabled outside an organization's own emissions inventory and should not be treated as deductions from Scope 1, 2 or 3 emissions. Its value lies in providing a consistent basis for assessing climate solutions, particularly where investment decisions require comparisons across technologies and sectors.

The underlying methodology is publicly accessible, while access to the interactive platform requires a licence. Interested organizations should contact the initiative's developers to discuss access and applications.