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Fuel CO₂ Emissions Calculator

Calculate CO₂ emissions from burning petrol, diesel, LPG, or jet fuel by volume consumed.

CO₂ emissions
115.5 kg CO₂
Burning 50 L of fuel at 2.31 kg CO₂/L produces 115.5 kg of tailpipe CO₂.
In tonnes
0.116 t
Emission factor
2.31 kg/L
Trees to offset
5.5

How it works

  1. 1Select your fuel type — petrol, diesel, LPG, or kerosene — to load its emission factor in kg CO₂ per litre.
  2. 2Enter the volume of fuel consumed in litres; emissions are computed as litres × emission factor.
  3. 3Read your CO₂ output in kg and tonnes, plus the number of trees needed to sequester it over a year.

Use cases

  • Estimate the carbon footprint of a road trip or flight based on fuel burn.
  • Compare the emissions of different fuel types for the same journey distance.
  • Calculate offset planting requirements for an individual or fleet fuel budget.

Frequently asked questions

Why does diesel produce more CO₂ per litre than petrol?

Diesel is denser and more carbon-rich than petrol. At roughly 2.68 kg CO₂/L vs 2.31 kg CO₂/L for petrol, burning one litre of diesel releases about 16 % more CO₂ by volume — though diesel engines are often more fuel-efficient per kilometre.

How is the tree offset figure calculated?

A mature tree sequesters approximately 21 kg of CO₂ per year. The calculator divides your total CO₂ (kg) by 21 to estimate how many trees, growing for one year, would absorb an equivalent amount.

Does this include upstream (well-to-tank) emissions?

No. The emission factors used here cover tailpipe (tank-to-wheel) CO₂ only — the direct combustion emissions. Upstream extraction, refining, and transport add roughly 15–25 % more on a lifecycle basis and are not included.

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