Context

Since the publication of Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (2004), Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard (2011), Scope 3 Calculation Guidance (2013), and Scope 2 Guidance (2015), there have been many important developments in greenhouse gas accounting and reporting. Among these are the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), the trend toward net-zero targets, mandatory climate disclosure regulations, use of the standards by thousands of companies, and academic research on their use and impact.   

Between November 2022 and March 2023, the public was invited to provide feedback on the current suite of corporate standards and guidance and provide suggestions for either maintaining current practices or developing updates and new additional guidance. This feedback covers GHG Protocol’s Corporate Standard, Scope 2 Guidance, Scope 3 Standard, and supporting documents, and will inform the scope of the updates that GHG Protocol makes to its standards and guidance.

The aim of any updates will be to align with best practice approaches to ensure GHG Protocol standards for scope 1, scope 2 and scope 3 are effective in providing a rigorous and credible accounting foundation for businesses to measure, plan and track progress toward science-based and net-zero targets in line with the global 1.5°C goal. Any future updates will seek harmonization and alignment with accounting rules under development through major disclosure initiatives. 

As with all Greenhouse Gas Protocol standards, any updates or development of additional guidance will be subject to an inclusive, global, multi-stakeholder decision-making process, with participation from business, NGOs, academia, and government worldwide.

Where We Are Now

GHG Protocol is currently reviewing applications for the Steering Committee, Independent Standards Board and Technical Working Groups. GHG Protocol received over 1,650 applications and is working diligently to give due consideration to all applicants. GHG Protocol now anticipates that Technical Working Groups will be established towards the end of Q2 2024. Given this, GHG Protocol anticipates releasing draft standards/guidance for public consultation in 2025 and publishing final standards/guidance in the latter half of 2026. GHG Protocol recognizes the urgent need for updated standards and is dedicated to moving as swiftly as possible while maintaining acute attention to checks and balances in decision-making. 

All material related to the survey process can be found here. 

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