GHG Protocol
The global standard for corporate greenhouse gas accounting.
The GHG Protocol is the world's most widely used greenhouse-gas accounting framework. Its Corporate Standard, Scope 2 Guidance, Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard and Product Life Cycle Standard underpin virtually every major climate disclosure regime.
A suite of standards developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), including the Corporate Standard, Scope 2 Guidance, Scope 3 Standard and Product Life Cycle Standard.
Key concepts
Rules for organisational and operational boundaries, and for Scope 1 & 2 accounting.
Introduces dual reporting: location-based and market-based.
Defines the 15 upstream and downstream value-chain categories.
Life-cycle accounting rules for individual products.
Featured articles
Scope 1 emissions explained: what counts, how to measure, how to reduce
Scope 1 covers a company's direct greenhouse gas emissions — from fuel combustion, process emissions, fugitive gases and owned vehicles. A practical guide to measurement and reduction.
Scope 2 emissions explained: location-based, market-based and how to reduce them
Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from purchased electricity, heat and steam. A guide to the GHG Protocol dual reporting method, PPAs, guarantees of origin and how to get to zero.
Scope 3 emissions explained: the 15 categories, how to measure, how to prioritise
Scope 3 is usually the largest part of a company's footprint. A practical guide to the 15 GHG Protocol categories, materiality screening, primary vs secondary data, and reduction strategy.
Glossary terms
Frequently asked questions
Is GHG Protocol mandatory?+
Not directly, but it is referenced by CSRD/ESRS E1, the SEC climate rule, ISSB IFRS S2, SBTi, CDP and PCAF — so following it is a prerequisite for virtually every reporting or target-setting obligation.
What are the two Scope 2 methods?+
Location-based uses the average grid emissions factor for the region. Market-based reflects contractual instruments such as PPAs and green tariffs. The GHG Protocol requires dual reporting.
Which of the 15 Scope 3 categories apply to us?+
All companies conduct a screening across the 15 categories; typically 3–6 are material. For banks, category 15 (investments / financed emissions) dominates; for retailers, categories 1 (purchased goods) and 11 (use of sold products) dominate.
Related regulations
- CSRD / ESRS E1ESRS E1
Requires GHG-Protocol-aligned Scope 1–3 disclosure.
- IFRS S2ISSB IFRS S2
Requires GHG-Protocol-aligned climate disclosure.
Related platform capabilities
See how the Redigo Carbon platform turns ghg protocol into an operating system.
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