ISO 14064 is a family of international standards that provides a comprehensive and clear framework for measuring, monitoring, reporting and verifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals. This standard helps organizations determine their carbon footprint and develop effective strategies to reduce their impact on the climate.
The application of ISO 14064 ensures consistency, reliability and transparency in GHG emissions data, supporting sustainable development efforts and a low-carbon economy. Although a voluntary standard, it is widely recognized internationally and is a basis for participation in emissions trading markets and environmental reporting requirements for investors and stakeholders.
The three main parts of ISO 14064:
The ISO 14064 family of standards consists of three parts, each focusing on a different level of GHG emissions management:
- ISO 14064-1 (Organization level):
- Scope: Specifies organization-wide principles and requirements for calculating and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and removals.
- Objective: Establish a clear and reliable inventory of greenhouse gases (Scope 1, 2, 3), define emission limits, and provide guidance on data quality management.
- ISO 14064-2 (project level):
- Scope: Focuses on projects and activities specifically designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or increase removals (e.g. renewable energy or reforestation projects).
- Objective: Reliably identify, monitor and report emission reductions resulting from the project, including determining the Baseline Scenario and confirming the additionality of the achieved reductions.
- ISO 14064-3 (Verification and Validation):
- Scope: Specifies principles and requirements forverification andvalidation of greenhouse gas data and emissions by an independent third party.
- Objective: To ensure the accuracy and reliability of GHG inventory data and project reports, and to issue an official Assurance Statement that promotes transparency and credibility.
Development Experts’ methodology for implementing theISO 14064-1GHG measurement system
To achieve compliance with the ISO 14064-1 enterprise-wide GHG measurement and reporting requirements, we follow a systematic approach that ensures accuracy and completeness:
1. Identify organizational boundaries and emission sources
We identify your organization’s operational and regulatory boundaries (financial or operational control), and identify all relevant emission sources. These emissions are categorized according to the three domains:
- Scope1: Direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by the organization (e.g. on-site fuel combustion).
- Scope2 (Scope2): Indirect emissions resulting from the consumption of purchased electrical or thermal energy.
- Scope3 (Scope3): Other indirect emissions that occur in the value chain (e.g. employee travel, transportation of products, raw materials).
2. Quantifying emissions and removals
We develop and apply standardized calculation methodologies to quantify greenhouse gasemissions (expressed in equivalents) for each source. We ensure that appropriateEmission Factors and data quality controls are used to minimize errors and uncertainties.
3. Establish a monitoring and documentation system
We design an internal system to monitorand compile data on a continuous, consistent and comparable basis. A system ofGHG records and batch reports is created that meets internal documentation and regulatory requirements.
4. Greenhouse Gas Reporting and Verification (ISO 14064-3)
We help prepare the annual GHG report in a transparent format that demonstrates the calculation methodology, assumptions, and results of emissions and removals. The organization is then instructed to conduct an independent third-party verification (in accordance with ISO 14064-3) to ensure the reliability of the report before it is made public.
Strategic advantages of implementing ISO 14064
Adhering to ISO 14064 provides an organization with benefits beyond just environmental compliance:
- Reliability and transparency: Increase the credibility of your environmental reports in the eyes of stakeholders, regulators, customers and investors, enhancing reputation.
- Risk management: Identify and manage the legal and financial risks associated with greenhouse gas emissions, and prepare for future carbon pricing legislation.
- Cost efficiency: Identify areas with high energy and carbon consumption, enabling the development of emission reduction strategies that minimize operating and energy costs.
- Competitive advantage: Meet the requirements of tenders and contracts that require carbon footprint disclosure, andactively participate in global carbon trading markets.
Would you like to start setting limits and sources for your organization’s direct emissions (Scope 1)?
