Comparing GHG Protocol and ISO Standards for Carbon Footprint Management

There are two frameworks that have emerged as key resources for organisations around the globe that are ramping up their efforts to measure and cut down on their carbon footprints. The two systems are the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards, in particular, the ISO 14064 and ISO 14067. ?While both frameworks address distinct purposes and objectives, they are aimed at accounting for greenhouse gas emissions.

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GHG Protocol: A Flexible Approach for Corporate Sustainability

The GHG Protocol is a standard for corporate sustainability reporting. ?It provides a flexible framework for the quantification of emissions at different scales. This includes company-wide, product-specific, and across entire value chains. ?For this reason, this protocol is becoming the de-facto standard initiative, such as the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

The GHG Protocol includes several key components:

• Corporate Standard: Deals with accounting and reporting of GHG emissions for emissions across the whole company.
• Scope 3 Standard: Describes guidance on the measurement of scope emissions across a company's value chain.
• Product Standard: Describes methods for measuring the emissions of greenhouse gases associated with particular products or services.
• Project Protocol: Supplies frameworks for quantifying emission reductions from specific projects.

These components together assist organisations in the comprehensive measurement and management of an organisation’s GHG emissions. ?This enables informed decision-making in their sustainability strategies.

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ISO Standards: Structured Frameworks for Compliance and Verification

By contrast, the ISO standards provide a better-structured and globally accepted standard, which is highly desirable to companies seeking regulatory conformity and third-party validation. ?Standards are particularly useful for entities that want to certify and verify their GHG inventories, projects, or product carbon footprints.

Key ISO standards include:

• ISO 14064-1: Outlines the requirements for GHG accounting at the organisational level.
• ISO 14064-2: Provides practical guidance on how to measure and report emission reduction of targeted projects.
• ISO 14064-3: Describes the process for verifying and validating GHG inventories.
• ISO 14067: Specifically deals with the carbon footprint of products in focus and provides advice for both quantification and communication.

These standards prioritise consistency, transparency, and accuracy. ?They ensure that GHG accounting adheres to international best practices and supports credible reporting.

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Choosing the Appropriate Framework

The decision between the GHG Protocol and ISO-type standards lies with an organisation’s exact needs:

• The GHG Protocol is an excellent reference point because of its usability and the complete specification it provides.
• The ISO framework provides a more structured framework, which is crucial for companies with verified and certified GHG inventory.

In real life, a lot of organisations are happy to adopt both frameworks. ?They may begin with the GHG Protocol for internal carbon accounting and later go in search of ISO certification to enhance credibility and meet compliance requirements.

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Conclusion

Both the GHG Protocol and ISO standards are critical in helping organisations to adopt and implement practical GHG accounting and mitigation measures. ?Organisations can make deliberate decisions by understanding the specific functions and uses of each framework. These decisions will all be dictated by sustainability needs and regulatory requirements. Above all, this can help to fuel global efforts towards climate change mitigation.