Understanding the GHG Protocol
The world's most widely used carbon accounting standard, explained in plain language.
If you measure emissions, you will meet the Greenhouse Gas Protocol sooner or later. It is the framework most standards, regulations, and reporting schemes are built on. Understanding it makes everything else easier.
What it is
The GHG Protocol is a set of standards for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions consistently. Its biggest contribution is a shared language: when two companies both report using it, their numbers can be compared with confidence.
The three scopes
The Protocol sorts emissions into three scopes:
- Scope 1: direct emissions from sources you own or control, such as company vehicles and on-site fuel combustion.
- Scope 2: indirect emissions from the energy you purchase, mainly electricity, heat and steam.
- Scope 3: all other indirect emissions across your value chain, from purchased goods and business travel to the use of the products you sell.
For most organisations, Scope 3 is by far the largest and the hardest to measure.
Why consistency matters
The Protocol's real value is comparability over time. By fixing your boundaries and methods, you can track genuine progress rather than changes caused by counting differently each year.
Pick a method, document it, and apply it consistently. That is what turns numbers into trends.
You do not need to master every detail to start. A standards-aligned baseline, built carefully, is enough to set targets and act. We can help you build one. Get in touch.
