Carbon Standards

Carbon Reporting Standards were developed to enhance the quality and robustness of carbon reporting internationally. The main aim is to ensure all organisations calculate their carbon footprint in a manner which is:

• Relevant to their organisation
• Consistent with best practice
• Transparent and fully auditable

While there are a number of standards available, the two most recognised carbon reporting standards are:

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol Initiative

The GHG Protocol’s corporate standard was first published in 2001 and is recognised as the ‘de facto’ standard for carbon management and reporting internationally.

The GHG Protocol is managed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (Geneva) and the World Resources Institute (Washington DC). It comprises representatives from a broad international coalition of businesses, NGOs and government organisations.

Further information on the GHG Protocol is available at http://www.ghgprotocol.org/

ISO 14064 (1)

While largely based on the GHG protocol, the ISO standard is less prescriptive. It allows the flexibility to align carbon reporting with other programs or policies which may be relevant to your organisation.

A full and transparent audit trail is maintained in order to facilitate independent verification to ensure consistency and credibility throughout the process.

The key benefits of using the GHG Protocol or the ISO 14064 carbon standard are:

• International recognition
• Compatible with other programs and policies
• Fully auditable structure