The GHG Protocol (Greenhouse Gas Protocol) is the most widely used international standard for how companies and organisations measure, calculate and report their greenhouse gas emissions. It acts as the “accounting rules” for climate data, and more than 90% of the world’s largest companies use it.

What does the GHG Protocol cover?

• How emissions are calculated
• Which types of data can be used
• How quality and documentation are handled
• How emissions are categorised and reported

The GHG Protocol is also where the split into scope 1, 2 and 3 comes from. It ensures that emissions are allocated by source, so carbon accounting is consistent and comparable.

Which gases are covered?

The GHG Protocol covers the seven greenhouse gases defined in the Kyoto Protocol. They are converted to CO2e so they can be added up. Other gases with a climate impact, such as certain refrigerants, must be recorded and reported separately, outside the scopes.

Location-based and market-based

The GHG Protocol requires electricity-related emissions to be reported in two ways: location-based and market-based. Both figures must be included, also under CSRD.

The GHG Protocol in Enity EMS

The carbon accounting module in Enity EMS is built on the GHG Protocol. It covers scope 1, 2 and relevant scope 3 categories, distinguishes between location-based and market-based emissions, and can apply multiple scope values per resource type.

Read more

• Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions explained
• Carbon accounting in Enity EMS

Related terms

• Carbon accounting
• Scope 1, 2 and 3
• Emission factor

See it in action

Want to see carbon accounting built on the GHG Protocol? Book a demo and we will show you how it works with your own data.