They published the first version of Greenhouse Gas Protocol in September 2001. In 1998 the World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) began work to develop a protocol to support this goal. These actions raised awareness about the importance of accurate GHG emission estimates. These are carbon dioxide (CO 2), methane ( CH 4), nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, nitrogen trifluoride, hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons. Two years later, the Kyoto protocol defined the greenhouse gases that are the focus of today's accounting methods. In 1995, the United Nations climate program required developed countries to report annually on their emissions from six types of industry. Initial efforts to create greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting methods were largely at the national level. Organizations like Climate Trace are now able to check reports against actual emissions via the use of satellite imagery and AI techniques. Methods are being developed to provide accuracy checks on accounting reports from companies and projects. These limitations can, in turn, impact perceptions of progress on climate change. In project accounting, additionality and double counting issues can affect the credibility of renewable energy and forest preservation efforts. ![]() Scope 3 emissions, in particular, can be difficult to estimate. There are a number of challenges in creating accurate accounts of greenhouse gas emissions. Scope 3 covers other indirect emissions, including those from general suppliers. Scope 2 covers emissions from electricity purchased by the organization. The Scope 1 category covers direct emissions from an organization's facilities. These often organize emissions into three categories. A variety of standards and guidelines can apply, including Greenhouse Gas Protocol and ISO 14064. They typically involve a combination of measurements, calculations, estimates, and reporting. These techniques can be used at different scales, from those of companies and cities, to the greenhouse gas inventories of entire nations. This can promote more environmentally friendly purchasing decisions. These techniques can also help understand the impacts of specific products and services by quantifying their GHG emissions throughout their lifecycle. Markets for buying and selling carbon credits also depend on accurate measurement of emissions and emission reductions. There are now many governments around the world that require various forms of reporting, and there is some evidence that programs that require GHG accounting have the effect of lowering emissions. Corporate and community net-zero goals are also aided by accurate accounting methods. GHG accounting methods can help investors better understand the climate risks of companies they invest in. Other motivations include public rankings alongside other companies, financial due diligence, and potential cost savings. GHG accounting is often done to address social responsibility concerns, or meet legal requirements. ![]() The accounting methods enable them to do this in a more consistent and transparent manner. ![]() Organizations will often set an emissions baseline, create targets for reducing emissions, and track progress towards them. Corporations, cities and other groups use these techniques to help limit climate change. It can also be used to track projects or actions to reduce emissions in sectors such as forestry or renewable energy. Depiction of sources for Scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions used in Greenhouse Gas Protocol (a type of carbon accounting method) Ĭarbon accounting (or greenhouse gas accounting) is a framework of methods to measure and track how much greenhouse gas (GHG) an organization emits.
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