A global coalition co-founded by Al Gore, the former US vice president, has released a granular database tracking global greenhouse gas emissions down to the individual polluter. And some of the world’s biggest companies plan to use this data to decarbonize their supply chains.
Climate Trace uses machine learning, satellites and other technology to detect and track greenhouse gas emissions. That information is then bundled into a public inventory, the latest of which was announced by Mr. Gore at the COP28 climate talks in Dubai. The database covers more than 350 million sources of greenhouse gas pollution, such as individual power plants, steel mills, and mining operations. That level of specificity allows companies to build a low-emissions supply chain rather than relying on suppliers’ self-reported emissions data, said Gavin McCormick, co-founding coalition member.