On January 20, the GHG Protocol released the Scope 2 Guidance: an amendment to the Corporate Standard. It is the first major revision to the Corporate Standard in over 11 years. To help companies start implementing the Guidance, here are a few answers to the top ten questions you might have and where to find more information in the Guidance document.

Because the value of fossil fuel companies is based on the size of their reserves, it may seem counter-intuitive to see some of these assets as potential risks. But changes in market or economic conditions can make some reserves too expensive to tap, leaving them stranded – and their owners more vulnerable than the size of their reserves would indicate.

For many businesses, value chain (scope 3) emissions account for more than 70 percent of their carbon footprint. Measuring and managing these emissions can motivate a company to do business with greener suppliers, improve the energy efficiency of its products, and rethink its distribution network -- measures that significantly reduce the overall impact on the climate.

Tunisia launched its renewable energy program, PROSOL ELEC, in 2010 to scale up solar photovoltaic systems in buildings throughout the country. The National Agency for Energy Conversation (ANME) anticipated that the greater use of solar power would help curb climate change, but experts didn’t quantify just how much the program would reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.

For the first time, governments now have consistent, reliable methods to account for greenhouse gas reductions from their climate policies and goals. Today, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol launched two new standards to help governments design better policies and emissions reductions goals, and measure progress against them. 

The GHG Protocol offers two new online courses for policymakers and analysts at either the national or local level. The courses are intended to help users understand the Policy and Action Standard and Mitigation Goal Standard and apply the standard to their specific circumstances.