GHG Protocol
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (Revised Edition 2004/2015) and Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard (2011). Published by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). The most widely used international accounting tool for government and business to understand, quantify, and manage greenhouse gas emissions.
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Framework Domains (5)
Reporting Principles
Five core principles for GHG accounting and reporting
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| GHG-PRIN-1 | Relevance |
| GHG-PRIN-2 | Completeness |
| GHG-PRIN-3 | Consistency |
| GHG-PRIN-4 | Transparency |
| GHG-PRIN-5 | Accuracy |
Scope 1: Direct Emissions
GHG emissions from sources owned or controlled by the company
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| GHG-S1-1 | Stationary Combustion |
| GHG-S1-2 | Mobile Combustion |
| GHG-S1-3 | Process Emissions |
| GHG-S1-4 | Fugitive Emissions |
Scope 2: Indirect Energy Emissions
GHG emissions from purchased energy consumed by the company
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| GHG-S2-1 | Purchased Electricity |
| GHG-S2-2 | Purchased Steam |
| GHG-S2-3 | Purchased Heating |
| GHG-S2-4 | Purchased Cooling |
Scope 3: Downstream Categories
Value chain emissions - downstream categories 9-15
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| GHG-S3-10 | Processing of Sold Products |
| GHG-S3-11 | Use of Sold Products |
| GHG-S3-12 | End-of-Life Treatment of Sold Products |
| GHG-S3-13 | Downstream Leased Assets |
| GHG-S3-14 | Franchises |
| GHG-S3-15 | Investments |
| GHG-S3-9 | Downstream Transportation and Distribution |
Scope 3: Upstream Categories
Value chain emissions - upstream categories 1-8
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| GHG-S3-1 | Purchased Goods and Services |
| GHG-S3-2 | Capital Goods |
| GHG-S3-3 | Fuel- and Energy-Related Activities (Not in Scope 1 or 2) |
| GHG-S3-4 | Upstream Transportation and Distribution |
| GHG-S3-5 | Waste Generated in Operations |
| GHG-S3-6 | Business Travel |
| GHG-S3-7 | Employee Commuting |
| GHG-S3-8 | Upstream Leased Assets |
Maps to 184 other frameworks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GHG Protocol?
GHG Protocol is a compliance framework from International with 5 domains and 28 controls. The Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (Revised Edition 2004/2015) and Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard (2011). Published by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). The most widely used international accounting tool for government and business to understand, quantify, and manage greenhouse gas emissions. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
How many controls does GHG Protocol have?
GHG Protocol has 28 controls organised across 5 domains. The largest domains are Scope 3: Upstream Categories (8 controls), Scope 3: Downstream Categories (7 controls), Reporting Principles (5 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
What frameworks does GHG Protocol map to?
GHG Protocol maps to 184 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are EU Taxonomy Regulation (Regulation 2020/852) (14% coverage), EU Taxonomy Regulation (14% coverage), EU SFDR (Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation) (14% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I get started with GHG Protocol compliance?
Start your GHG Protocol compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about GHG Protocol requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 28 controls and track your progress.
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