The GHG Protocol and ISO 14064-1 are both widely used frameworks for quantifying, monitoring, and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. While they share many similarities, there are some key differences in their approaches and scope:

1. Scope: #

• GHG Protocol: The GHG Protocol primarily focuses on quantifying and reporting GHG emissions at the organizational level, encompassing both direct and indirect emissions. It provides a comprehensive framework for organizations to assess their overall carbon footprint.
• ISO 14064-1: While ISO 14064-1 also addresses organizational-level emissions, it offers a more granular approach by allowing for reporting at both the organizational and project levels. This flexibility is particularly useful for organizations with multiple facilities or projects.

2. Methodology: #

• GHG Protocol: The GHG Protocol provides detailed guidance on calculating emissions for various sources, including stationary combustion, mobile combustion, industrial processes, and fugitive emissions. It also offers guidance on quantifying indirect emissions from purchased electricity (Scope 2) and other indirect sources (Scope 3).
• ISO 14064-1: While ISO 14064-1 shares many similarities with the GHG Protocol in terms of emission calculation methodologies, it may provide additional guidance or examples for specific industries or sectors.

3. Verification and Validation: #

• GHG Protocol: The GHG Protocol encourages organizations to seek external verification of their GHG reports to enhance credibility and ensure accuracy. However, it does not mandate verification.
• ISO 14064-1: ISO 14064-1 explicitly requires organizations to undergo a verification and validation process if they intend to have an independent reviewer assess their GHG reporting. This ensures a higher level of assurance in the reported emissions data.

4. Flexibility: #

• GHG Protocol: The GHG Protocol offers a more streamlined approach, making it easier for organizations to adopt and implement. It may be particularly suitable for organizations that are new to GHG reporting.
• ISO 14064-1: ISO 14064-1 provides a more flexible framework, allowing organizations to tailor their reporting to their specific needs and circumstances. This can be beneficial for organizations with complex operations or that require a high level of customization.

In summary, while both the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064-1 are valuable tools for GHG reporting, the choice between them often depends on the organization’s specific needs, level of experience, and desired level of assurance.

Feature	GHG Protocol	ISO 14064
Scope	Organizational level	Organizational (Part 1) and project levels (Part 2)
Methodology	Detailed guidance for various sources	Similar methodologies with potential additional guidance
Verification	Encouraged but not mandatory	Mandatory for external verification (Part 3)
Flexibility	Streamlined approach	More flexible framework