What is the GHG protocol ? 

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol is an initiative that serves to determine a universal standardized measurement by which companies and organizations can be evaluated on their output of emissions. 

The GHG Protocol is responsible for creating the global standard frameworks to measure and dictate how greenhouse gas emissions should be handled for other entities such as public and private sectors and value chains.

Known as the world’s most widely used framework for measuring and managing greenhouse gas emissions, the GHG Protocol was developed through a partnership with the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

Ultimately, the GHG Protocol provides standardized methods and guidelines to allow organizations, whether public, private, or part of a supply chain – method to account for, report, and reduce their emissions consistently with transparency.

The GHG Protocol’s standards are designed to ensure that emissions data is accurate, comparable, and credible. This allows businesses, governments, and other entities to understand their climate impact, track progress toward reduction goals, and report to stakeholders and regulators.

Key frameworks within the GHG Protocol include:

• Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard which measures emissions from an organization’s operations, broken into scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions to help organizations better understand the largest source of their environmental impact.
• Project Protocol which guides accounting for GHG reductions from specific projects.
• Product Life Cycle Standard which measures emissions associated with the full life cycle of a product.
• Policy and Action Standard which assesses the GHG impact of certain policies and actions.

Examples of the GHG Protocol in Real-Life

• A multinational retailer, such as a fast fashion store, uses the GHG Protocol to measure their scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions from their store locations across the globe. 
• A government agency applying the GHG Protocol to evaluate the climate impact of potential or current environmental policies.

The GHG Protocol is important because without standardized methods such as the GHG Protocol can help to ensure that emissions reporting remains consistent, and makes comparing results or tracking global progress toward climate goals more accessible to all. 

FAQ

Is the GHG Protocol legally binding?

No, the GHG Protocol is a voluntary standard, but many governments and companies align themselves with it in order to meet regulatory or investor expectations – making the GHG Protocol a well known “guideline” for organizations.

How does the GHG Protocol relate to CO₂e?

The GHG Protocol relates to carbon dioxide equivalents as it measures all greenhouse gases and then expresses them as CO₂ equivalents to allow for easy comparing and contrasting. 

Who uses the GHG Protocol?

Several different organizations use the GHG Protocol, including worldwide corporations and businesses, NGOs, cities, and national governments across the globe.

How often should emissions be measured using the GHG Protocol?

Most organizations measure emissions under the GHG Protocol annually, but some organizations may aim for quarterly emissions measurement for internal progress tracking – as this can ensure their robust carbon reduction strategies remain intact.

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More info: 

The GHG protocol is the most widely used standard of emissions accounting in the world. 

The protocol is partnered with various organizations around the world such as: 

• The World Resource Institute, 
• The World Business Council for Sustainable Development, 
• United Nations foundation
• Other various governments and NGOs throughout the world

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Through these partnerships, they produce the Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard, which provides the basis for virtually every official GHG measuring service globally. In addition to providing the measurement standards, the GHG protocol also offers reporting standards, sector guidance and training tools for businesses and governments to reduce their emissions. 

Check out their website for more information.