It shows the total net emissions of greenhouse gases, including the impact of the forestry and land use sector. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and fluorinated greenhouse gases, or F-gases, (hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), perfluorocarbons (PFC), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3)) emitted as a result of human activities. In the forestry and land use sector, removals of CO2 from the atmosphere are generally higher than emissions of CO2, which has an impact on total net emissions.
The indicator is also a measure of performance in the Estonian National Strategy on Sustainable Development and the Government Action Plan.