1 What are GHGs and why do they matter?

GHGs are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere and cause global warming. The most common GHGs are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases (F-gases). GHGs can come from various sources, such as fossil fuel combustion, agriculture, waste management, or industrial processes. GHGs have different global warming potentials (GWPs), which measure how much they contribute to climate change over a specific time period, usually 100 years. For example, one ton of CH4 has a GWP of 28, which means it is 28 times more potent than one ton of CO2.

2 What is the GHG Protocol and how does it work?

The GHG Protocol is the most widely used international standard for greenhouse gas accounting, providing a framework and guidance for measuring, reporting, and verifying GHG emissions. It divides emissions into three scopes: direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by the entity (Scope 1), indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heat, or cooling (Scope 2), and other indirect emissions from the entity's value chain (Scope 3). Additionally, the GHG Protocol defines five principles for GHG accounting - relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, and accuracy - to ensure that the GHG inventory is credible, reliable, and useful for decision-making.

4 How do you report GHG emissions?

To report GHG emissions, you need to follow the reporting requirements and guidelines of the relevant authority or program. For example, some countries or regions have mandatory GHG reporting regulations for certain sectors or entities. Some voluntary initiatives or standards also require or encourage GHG reporting, such as the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), or the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). You can use the GHG Protocol or other tools to prepare your GHG report, which typically includes information such as the entity's profile, boundaries, methodology, results, and verification.