Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol Alignment

Framework Description

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol sets standards to categorize, manage, and measure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with human activities. GHGs include specific gasses that are harmful to the environment like carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gasses such as hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluorides. This framework helps organizations and governments understand the sources of emissions, quantify and track them, and develop strategies to reduce their environmental impact. The Greenhouse Gas Protocol framework categorizes emissions into three scopes (Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3) depending on the source. 

Categories

Scope 1: This relates to direct GHGs emitted from sources owned or controlled by the organization. This often includes GHG emissions from burned fuels in owned or controlled equipment like fleets and gas-powered appliances. 

• Examples: Gas in company cars, heating and burning oil and gas, fuel to power equipment

Scope 2: These are indirect emissions related to the generation of purchased electricity used by an entity. These emissions are from sources not owned or controlled by an entity but are related to their energy consumption.

• Examples: Electricity, heat, cooling, steam

Scope 3: This relates to the indirect emissions that occur from activities within the entity’s value chain but are not from sources owned or controlled by them. Scope 3 is known to be the most difficult to track and quantify because it includes both upstream and downstream activities like supply chain, investments, transportation, commuting, disposal of waste, and any emissions from post-consumer products. 

• Examples:
  • Upstream: Purchased goods and services, capital goods, transportation, distribution, operational waste, business travel, employee commuting, leased assets
  • Downstream: Transportation and distribution, processing of products, use of sold products, end-of-life of sold products, leased assets, franchises, investments

How GHG Protocol Applies to Business: 

Using the GHG Protocol, organizations can systematically measure, manage, and reduce their environmental impact. Through accurate measurement and reporting, businesses can set reduction targets, identify efficiency improvements, and engage with suppliers to address excess emissions across their entire operation. By integrating GHG emission reduction into operational strategies, businesses can mitigate environmental risk, increase long-term resilience, and stay competitive through industry changes. 

GBB/Greenhouse Gas Protocol Alignment: 

GBB’s library offers a variety of initiatives that are tailored to align with the emission scope framework. These initiatives provide organizations with the resources and guidance needed to effectively reduce their emissions across all scopes, such as reducing scope 1 through practices for owned or controlled sources in their facilities and fleets, scope 2 emissions through energy efficiency and renewable energy practices, and scope 3 through encouraging sustainable procurement practices, optimizing transportation logistics, and promoting waste reduction.

Within the platform, you will see "GHG" tag in the initiative table under "Frameworks" if that initiative aligns with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. If you hover over the tag, you will see a pop-up with the specific scope it aligns with.