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We provide a comprehensive review of the proxy data on the ¹³C ∕ ¹²C ratios and uncertainties of emissions of reactive carbonaceous compounds into the atmosphere, with a focus on CO sources. Based on an evaluated set-up of the EMAC model, we derive the isotope-resolved data set of its emission inventory for the 1997–2005 period. Additionally, we revisit the calculus required for the correct derivation of uncertainties associated with isotope ratios of emission fluxes. The resulting <i>δ</i>¹³C of overall surface CO emission in 2000 of −(25. 2 ± 0. 7) ‰ is in line with previous bottom-up estimates and is less uncertain by a factor of 2. In contrast to this, we find that uncertainties of the respective inverse modelling estimates may be substantially larger due to the correlated nature of their derivation. We reckon the <i>δ</i>¹³C values of surface emissions of higher hydrocarbons to be within −24 to −27 ‰ (uncertainty typically below ±1 ‰), with an exception of isoprene and methanol emissions being close to −30 and −60 ‰, respectively. The isotope signature of ethane surface emission coincides with earlier estimates, but integrates very different source inputs. <i>δ</i>¹³C values are reported relative to V-PDB.