Greenhouse gases, or GHGs, are compound gases that trap heat or longwave radiation in the atmosphere. Their presence in the atmosphere makes the Earth’s surface warmer. Sunlight or shortwave radiation can easily pass through these gases and the atmosphere. This radiation is absorbed by the surface of the earth and released as heat or longwave radiation. The molecular structure of GHGs allows them to absorb the heat released or trap them in the atmosphere and re-emit them back to the earth.
This heat-trapping phenomenon is known as the greenhouse effect. The accumulation of GHGs since the industrial revolution has accelerated this greenhouse effect, causing global warming and climate change.Â
GHG Protocol
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol, also known as GHG Protocol, supplies the world’s most widely used GHG accounting standards which provide requirements and guidance for companies and other organisations preparing a corporate-level GHG emissions inventory. By using the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard, companies and/or other organisations can:Â
- Prepare a GHG inventory that represents a true and fair account of their emissions through the use of standardised approaches and principlesÂ
- Simplify and reduce the costs of compiling a GHG inventoryÂ
- Provide businesses with information that can be used to build an effective strategy to manage and reduce GHG emissionsÂ
- Increase consistency and transparency in GHG accounting and reporting among various companies and GHG programsÂ
The standard covers the accounting and reporting of seven greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol – carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PCFs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3). Â
Sources of GHGs
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Majority of CO2 emissions come from the burning of fossil fuels like coal, natural gas and oil, from the clearing of forests and other land use changes, as well as some industrial processes such as steel, pulp and paper and cement manufacturing.
Methane (CH4)
CH4 is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil as well as from livestock and other agricultural practices, land use and by the decay of agricultural waste and organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills.
Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
Major sources of N2O include soil cultivation practices, especially the use of commercial and organic fertilizers, fossil fuel combustion, nitric acid production, and biomass burning.
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
HFCs are released into the atmosphere during manufacturing processes and through leaks, servicing, and disposal of equipment in which they are used.
Perfluorocarbons (PCFs)
PCFs are produced as a byproduct of aluminium production and semiconductor manufacturing.
Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6)
SF6 is released as a result of leaks in the electricity and electronics supply industries.
Nitrogen Trifluoride (NF3)
NF3 is emitted mainly from agriculture, industrial processes, vehicular emissions and volatilisation from soils and oceans.
GHG Protocol’s Corporate Standard Training Webinar RecordingÂ
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s Corporate Standard Training Webinar is the perfect entry-point for corporate greenhouse gas emissions accounting. Participants can expect to gain knowledge and skills in the following categories:Â
- GHG accounting and reporting principles
- Business goals and inventory design
- Setting organisational boundaries
- Setting operational boundaries
- Tracking emissions over time
- Identifying and calculating GHG emissions
- Reporting GHG emissions
For more details, see the course learning objectives and a sample agenda. Â
A recording of the most recent training held in March 2019 is publicly available at no cost on GHG Protocol’s GoToStage channel. However, please note that a certificate of completion will not be provided to those who access the free recording.Â
