In today’s world, where people care more and more about the environment, it’s very important for businesses to understand and manage the gases they release that can harm the planet. These gases are called greenhouse gases (GHGs), and they play a big part in climate change. If a business wants to be more eco-friendly and meet its green goals, it needs to keep track of these emissions in the right way.

There are two well-known systems that help businesses do this in a clear and organized way: the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and ISO 14064. These two systems give step-by-step instructions that help companies measure and report their greenhouse gas emissions properly. They are both used around the world and are trusted by many businesses.

In this guide, we will look closely at both the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064. We will explain what they are, how they are different from each other, and how businesses can use them in the best way to track and reduce their carbon emissions. This will help companies do their part in fighting climate change and show they care about the planet.

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Understanding the GHG Protocol

The GHG Protocol was created by two groups: the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). It gives a complete and clear system that helps people and companies measure and manage the greenhouse gases (GHG) they release into the air.

Key Components:

Corporate Standard: This part of the GHG Protocol is about keeping track of and reporting greenhouse gas emissions for a whole company or organization. It focuses on the full picture of what the company is doing in terms of emissions.

Project Protocol: This section is about tracking and reporting greenhouse gas emissions from a specific project or activity. Instead of looking at the entire company, it looks at one project to see how much it reduces emissions.

Scope 1, 2, and 3 Emissions:

Scope 1: These are the direct emissions that come from sources the company owns or controls, like company cars or factory chimneys.

Scope 2: These are the indirect emissions that come from the electricity, heating, or cooling the company buys and uses, but doesn’t produce itself.

Scope 3: These are all the other indirect emissions that happen because of the company’s activities. This includes things like emissions from the products they buy, how their products are used, or how waste is handled. It covers everything that happens in the company’s value chain.

The GHG Protocol is used by many companies and organizations around the world. It is one of the most trusted systems for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and is the basis for many sustainability and environmental reporting programs.

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Exploring ISO 14064

ISO 14064 is a worldwide standard made by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It gives clear rules and requirements for how to measure and report greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This standard helps people and organizations understand how much GHG they are releasing and how to share that information in the right way.

Structure:

Part 1 (ISO 14064-1):

This part gives help to organizations on how to measure and report the greenhouse gases (GHG) they release into the air, and also how much they remove from the air. It explains what steps they should follow at the organization level to make sure their GHG numbers are clear, correct, and done the same way every time.

Part 2 (ISO 14064-2):

This part talks about specific projects that aim to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the air or increase the amount taken out of the air. It explains what rules and steps must be followed to measure, check, and report the results of these projects in a proper way.

Part 3 (ISO 14064-3):

This part explains how to check and confirm that the information a company or project gives about greenhouse gases is correct. It shows the proper way to review and make sure the GHG reports and claims are true and reliable.

ISO 14064 as a whole:

The full ISO 14064 standard makes sure that when companies measure and report their greenhouse gases, they do it in a way that is clear, honest, and correct. It wants everyone to follow the same rules so the results can be trusted.

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Comparing GHG Protocol and ISO 14064

While both frameworks aim to standardize GHG accounting, they have distinct features:

Guidance vs. Certification:

The GHG Protocol gives a lot of helpful instructions on how to measure greenhouse gas emissions. However, it does not provide any kind of official certification.

On the other hand, ISO 14064 gives a clear and organized set of rules to follow. It also allows companies to get certified by an independent organization, if they want.

Level of Detail:

The GHG Protocol gives very detailed steps on how to do the calculations. It even includes special advice for different types of industries or sectors.

ISO 14064, however, gives a more general framework. It does not go into as much detail, but it gives organizations the freedom to choose the best methods that work for them.

Verification:

With the GHG Protocol, getting an independent third party to check the data is optional. It is up to the organization to decide whether they want that or not.

But with ISO 14064, third-party checking is a big part of the process. It is strongly encouraged to have an independent organization verify the data to make sure it is accurate and trustworthy.

Many organizations choose to use both the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064 together. This way, they can use the detailed instructions from the GHG Protocol and also follow the structured checking and certification process from ISO 14064.

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Implementing Carbon Accounting in Your Organization

1. Understand What You Need
Figure out which emissions to measure:

Scope 1: Direct emissions from your own operations (like fuel use).

Scope 2: Emissions from the energy you buy (like electricity).

Scope 3: Emissions from other sources, like suppliers or product use.

Also, check what your stakeholders and any regulations expect from your reporting.

2. Choose the Right Standard
Use the GHG Protocol to guide your emissions calculations.

Use ISO 14064 if you want a structured process and possible certification.

3. Build a GHG Inventory
Collect data on things like energy use and transportation.

Use standard emission factors to calculate your total emissions.

4. Set Up Monitoring and Reporting
Create a system to regularly gather and review emissions data.

Make sure your reports are accurate and transparent.

5. Get Verified and Certified
Hire a third party to check your data.

Consider ISO 14064 certification to show your commitment to best practices.

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Conclusion

Understanding and using the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064 standards are important steps for organizations that want to track and reduce their carbon emissions. These two frameworks help businesses measure and report their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a clear and trustworthy way. By using both together, companies can make sure their reporting is correct, easy to understand, and reliable. This also helps them support global efforts to protect the environment and fight climate change.