Are you reporting according to the GHG Protocol? Then you might be wondering what scope 1, 2 and 3 actually mean? Here's all the information you need to get started with GHG.
What is the GHG Protocol?
The GHG Protocol stands for Greenhouse Gas Protocol and is a global standard used to facilitate organizations' reporting of greenhouse gas emissions. The standard covers the six greenhouse gases CO2, CH4, N2O, SF6, HFCs and PFCs. The first version of the Protocol was launched in 2001, developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Today, organizations around the world use the GHG Guidelines to measure, manage, report and compare emissions.
To facilitate reporting, emissions are divided into three different categories called scope 1, 2 and 3. According to the GHG, it is mandatory to report emissions in scope 1 and 2, but optional to report emissions in scope 3. The purpose of dividing emissions into scopes is to clarify for organizations which part of the value chain the emissions come from and what actions are needed to reduce them.
What do Scope 1, 2 and 3 mean?
- Scope 1: Includes direct greenhouse gas emissions, i.e. emissions that the organization itself is responsible for and can influence.
- Scope 2: Includes indirect emissions in the form of purchased energy from external suppliers. The business can influence scope 2 emissions by choosing climate-friendly energy suppliers.
- Scope 3: Includes indirect emissions in addition to purchased energy, for example, materials, transportation and other external suppliers. It is more difficult to map emissions in scope 3 because it requires more extensive work by the organization. Many organizations can include the majority of their emissions in scope 3.
Read more: How Stratsys helps you with GHG reporting
The 5 principles of the GHG Protocol
- Relevance: Reporting should provide a relevant picture of the greenhouse gas emissions of the business.
- Completeness: Reporting shall be comprehensive and include all emissions that fit the criteria. Any discrepancies should be clarified in the report.
- Consistency: Data shall be collected and reported in a consistent manner to facilitate comparisons. Any changes in methodology should be described in the report.
- Transparency: Everything should be described in the report, including activities that do not currently meet the criteria. No activities, sources, methods or similar may be left out of the report.
- Accuracy: The content of the report should be as up-to-date as possible. The greenhouse gas emissions reported shall be consistent with actual emissions as far as possible.
Read more about how Stratsys product for CSRD sustainability management could help you with your sustainability work, or contact us directly if you would like to know more.
