Gaia supports multiple ways to import emissions data depending on how your data is structured and whether emissions are calculated inside or outside the platform.
Step 1: Choose Emissions as the data type
Start a new import and select Emissions. This determines the available import options and required fields.
Step 2: Select reporting period and emissions import type
Choose the reporting period, then select how your emissions should be imported.
Emissions import types explained
Activity-based
Use when you have raw activity data such as electricity usage, fuel consumption, or distance travelled. Gaia applies emission factors and calculates emissions automatically. This is the most common and recommended option.
Pre-calculated
Use when emissions have already been calculated elsewhere. You upload CO₂e values directly and Gaia stores them without applying emission factors.
Spend-based
Use when emissions are estimated from financial spend data. Gaia applies spend-based emission factors where activity data is unavailable.
Product-based
Use when emissions are linked to specific products or materials using product-level emission factors or environmental data.
Step 3: Choose how to upload your data
After selecting the import type, choose whether to use a Gaia template or your own spreadsheet.
Option A: Using a Gaia Excel template
If you use a Gaia template, download it, populate the required fields, and upload it. Gaia automatically applies rules, maps fields, and validates the data.
This follows the standard import flow described in the Import Overview guide and requires no manual column mapping.
Option B: Using a custom spreadsheet
If you upload your own spreadsheet, Gaia will guide you through additional configuration and mapping steps.
Step 4: Configure file settings (custom spreadsheets only)
Specify which sheet and header row Gaia should use when reading your file.
Step 5: Map your columns
Match columns from your spreadsheet to Gaia fields. Required fields must be mapped before you can continue.
You can map columns directly or apply constant values to all rows, such as assigning a single location or subsidiary.
Step 6: Validate and complete the import
Gaia validates all records and highlights any errors. Once validation passes, confirm the import to commit the data.
Imported emissions are immediately available in the platform.