GHG protocol and carbon footprint.

The greenhouse gas protocol is also known as GHG protocol is one of the most widely used Global accounting standard and tool used by businesses governments and individuals to understand quantify and manage the GHG emissions. GE3S uses GHG protocol to estimate the carbon footprint for its clients. GHG protocol is like a foundation for almost all Greenhouse gas programs running globally. GHG protocol through a decade long partnership between the world resource Institute and the GHG protocol has helped businesses governments and environmental groups create carbon footprints develop baselines and set targets for emission reductions ultimately leading to climate change mitigation. The requirement for GHG protocol was felt by the world resource Institute when it felt that there is a requirement for a global standard for carbon footprint assessments and reporting that can assess or assist the growing climate change policy globally.

Corporates such as the British Petroleum, General Motors came together and developed the report which was called a safe climate sound business. This report identified an action agenda for climate change mitigation and also mentioned that there is a need to have standardization of carbon footprint assessments. This was happening in the late 90s and as a result, an agreement was reached that a Non-governmental organisation will be launched with partnership from businesses to set up a standardised method for carbon footprint assessment. This materialized in the year 1998. A steering committee was formed which included members from WWF, Global climate change, the energy and resources Institute and also from industry leaders such as Tokyo electric, shell etc.

This committee guided the multi-stakeholder engagement process for developing the carbon footprint standard. The GHG protocol sets standard for developing carbon footprint, essentially on how to measure manage and report the greenhouse gas emissions from a business organisation or an event or individual or activity. Hundreds of organisations across the globe nowadays are using GHG protocol to estimate their carbon footprint and manage emissions in an efficient and resilient manner. GE3S has used the GHG protocol in several of its assignments related to carbon footprint estimations. We find this guidance very useful while we are dealing with engagement related to carbon footprint. This has been developed through discussion with stakeholders and is still being developed on several fronts and suggestions from stakeholders are being sought. This is one of the success factors for GHG protocol to be used across the globe for carbon footprint assessments.