GHG Protocol
Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard
The GHG Protocol is the world’s most widely used greenhouse gas accounting standard. Its Corporate Standard defines how organizations measure and report emissions across Scope 1, 2 and 3 — and it underpins almost every other framework, including VSME, CSRD and CDP.
| Publisher | WRI & WBCSD |
|---|---|
| Corporate Standard | 2001 (rev. 2015) |
| Scope 3 Standard | 2011 |
| Status | Voluntary, foundational |
Who reports under it
Any organization measuring its carbon footprint. The GHG Protocol is the foundational methodology rather than a disclosure mandate, so it sits underneath the frameworks you actually report against.
The three scopes
Direct emissions from sources you own or control: on-site fuel combustion, company vehicles, and refrigerant leaks.
Indirect emissions from the energy you purchase: electricity, heat, steam and cooling.
All other indirect emissions across your value chain, split into 15 categories — typically the largest and hardest part of a footprint.
Why the GHG Protocol matters
Because almost every other standard builds on it, the GHG Protocol gives organizations a common, comparable language for emissions. Get your Scope 1, 2 and 3 accounting right under the GHG Protocol and you can report against VSME, CSRD, CDP or BRSR from the same underlying data.
Frequently asked questions
What are Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions?
Scope 1 is direct emissions from sources you own or control. Scope 2 is indirect emissions from purchased energy. Scope 3 is all other indirect emissions across your value chain, across 15 categories.
Is the GHG Protocol mandatory?
No — it is a voluntary methodology. However, because frameworks like VSME and CSRD rely on it, following the GHG Protocol is effectively required to report emissions correctly.
How Clidapt helps
Clidapt calculates your Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions to the GHG Protocol using AR4/AR5 emission factors, with manual entry and document upload.