A handy reference for GHG Protocol terminology
The first step to net zero emissions is computing your current emissions. Greenhouse gas protocol is seminal to emissions accounting and forms the basis for several reporting frameworks. It is easy to get overwhelmed with the terminology included in the guidelines.
Here is a summary of the key concepts:
GHG Protocol (Greenhouse Gas Protocol)
GHG Protocol is probably the world’s most widely used greenhouse gas accounting standard to measure and manage greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from private and public sector operations, value chains, as well as mitigation actions.
Scope 1
Scope 1 refers to direct GHG emissions that occur from sources that are owned or controlled by the company, for example, emissions from combustion in owned or controlled boilers, furnaces, vehicles, etc., and emissions from chemical production in owned or controlled process equipment.
- Stationary Combustion: Scope 1 emissions from stationary equipment like boilers and furnaces to generate steam, heat or power.
- Mobile Combustion: Scope 1 emissions from burning fuel in transportation equipment like cars, trucks, trains, planes, ships, etc.
- Fugitive Emissions: Scope 1 emissions that are not physically controlled but result from the intentional or unintentional releases of GHGs arising from the production, processing transmission storage, and use of fuels and other chemicals, often through joints, seals, packing, gaskets, etc.
Scope 2
Scope 2 refers to emissions from acquired and consumed electricity, steam, heating, and cooling. These emissions are a consequence of activities of the reporting organization but occur at sources owned or controlled by another organization (for example, they are owned or controlled by an electricity generator or utility).
Scope 3
Scope 3 emissions are a consequence of the activities that occur from sources not owned or controlled by the company. Some examples of scope 3 activities are extraction and production of purchased materials; transportation of purchased fuels; and use of sold products and services. Scope 3 activities also include waste disposal, employee business travel, and outsourced operations.
Greenhouse Gases
GHG Protocol includes the following six greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol – carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PCFs), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).
CO2e: CO2 equivalent
The universal unit of measurement to indicate the global warming potential (GWP) of each of the six greenhouse gases, expressed in terms of the GWP of one unit of carbon dioxide. It is used to evaluate releasing (or avoiding releasing) different greenhouse gases against a common basis. The emissions of each GHG (CO2, CH4, N2O, etc.) are calculated separately and then converted to CO2 equivalents based on their global warming potential.
Emission Factor
A factor allowing GHG emissions to be estimated from a unit of available activity data (e.g. tonnes of fuel consumed, tonnes of product produced) and absolute GHG emissions.
GHG Protocol Calculation Tools
Cross-sector and sector-specific tools that calculate GHG emissions on the basis of activity data and emission factors (available at www.ghgprotocol.org).
Base Year and Base Year Emissions
Base Year is a specific year against which a company’s emissions are tracked over time and Base Year emissions are the company’s GHG emissions in the base year.
Boundaries
GHG accounting and reporting boundaries can have several dimensions, i.e. organizational, operational, geographic, business unit, and target boundaries. The inventory boundary determines which emissions are accounted and reported by the company.
Your Carbon Steps can help you get started on GHG emissions calculations based on the GHG Protocol.
