This Excel™ based tool, developed by FAO, provides ex-ante carbon balance estimates of development projects in the agriculture and forestry sectors. The tool compares the carbon emitted or removed due to the implementation of the project against a baseline scenario.

The EX-ACT tool uses IPCC Tier 1 values and allows input of specific coefficients (Tier 2). While the tool is typically used for on-farm analysis, users can also estimate GHG emissions occurring beyond the farm gate, such as from fertilizer production and fuel associated with the transport of products. EX-ACT tools for value chains (EX-ACT VC) and biodiversity (B-INTACT) have also been developed.

EX-ACT (EX-ante Appraisal Carbon-balance Tool)