New indicators
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: This WDI update includes 43 new greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions indicators. The new indicators cover the annual emissions of greenhouse gases included in the Kyoto protocol and are disaggregated by gas (carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and fluorinated gases) as well as by sector (agriculture, energy (building, fugitive emissions, industrial combustion, power industry), industrial processes, transport, and waste).
The data for the new emissions indicators is sourced from the EDGARv8.0 database, which is published by the European Commission’s Joint Research Center (JRC) and is estimated using information from several sources including the International Energy Agency (IEA). The data are harmonized using a methodology developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which allows for comparison across countries as well as sectors.
The EDGARv8.0 database tracks annual emissions up to 2022 and has an annual update cycle (the next update including 2023 data is forthcoming). The data is standardized to carbon dioxide equivalent values using the latest global warming potential (GWP) values from the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), which was published in 2013.
In addition, this update includes new indicators on carbon fluxes caused by land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF), which are disaggregated by four categories: deforestation, forest land, organic soil, and other land. The country-level data for the LULUCF indicators is sourced from a hybrid dataset produced by Grassi et al., (2023), which is generally reflective of country-submitted estimates and draws data from submissions and briefs to the UNFCCC and REDD+, independent reports, satellite data, and wildfire data to report emissions and removals. The Grassi database covers the years 2000-2020 and is expected to have annual updates.
The new indicators also include the carbon intensity of GDP, as well as the change of emissions with respect to 1990 for all gases. The year 1990 is used as reference year in the Kyoto protocol.
These new 43 indicators replace the previous 37 GHG emissions indicators in WDI, which were compiled from various data sources, restricting the comparability across indicators, and had limited time coverage, especially for more recent years. As the methodology differs between the new indicators and the previous indicators, e.g. using different GWP values (AR4 vs AR5), all the new indicators have new indicator codes, and all historical values have been replaced.
A list of the replaced 37 indicators, along with WDI Database Archives API links, can be found in the Annex.
Internet use: WDI now includes the sex-disaggregated Internet use indicators sourced from the International Telecommunication Union. The Internet is a crucial tool for various essential activities, including accessing education, searching for jobs, engaging in e-commerce, obtaining health information, and using financial or government services. These indicators correspond to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17.8.1 indicator, and help identify digital divides among individuals using the Internet. Notably, it highlights that women, particularly in low-income countries, have lower internet usage rates than men. This data integration enhances our ability to analyze and address gender disparities in internet usage, supporting evidence-based policymaking and targeted interventions to promote digital inclusion.
