GHG Protocol
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol provides standardized frameworks for measuring and managing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in private and public sector operations, value chains, and mitigation efforts worldwide. The GHG Protocol was jointly developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). It offers businesses and governments the resources they need to calculate and regulate emissions that contribute to global warming, including standards, guidance, tools, and training programs. One of those tools is the emission accounting systematics according to scopes 1, and 3. Calculating emissions is a multi-step process, to assess all emissions, a life cycle approach should be used, that includes both, direct and indirect emissions. Direct emissions, which are controlled by the reporting company, fall under Scope 1. This includes emissions from fuel combustion (CO2) and process-related emissions, such as N2O in nitric acid production. Indirect emissions, reported under Scope 2, are associated with purchased electricity, heat, steam, and refrigeration. Scope 3 emissions include all (indirect) emissions that occur in the value chain, both upstream (such as the carbon footprint of raw materials, oil and gas extraction, etc.) and downstream (related for instance with waste generated but also through the use of chemical products or in their end-of-life stage, including those with high global warming potential, such as F-gases).
Stage of Life Cycle
Overarching
GHG Reduction Potential
The GHG Protocol tools help companies and cities create complete and trustworthy lists of their greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, they support countries and cities in monitoring and achieving their climate objectives. The breakdown of GHG emissions into different categories enables companies and organisations to clarify how they mitigate the different types of emissions in all three scope categories.
Solution Maturity Status
Well established:
This technology has been operating for a number of years and is well-known/ successful in its industry or market.